Top Trees and Shrubs to Transform Your Tampa Bay Yard

The Tampa Bay area is a vibrant place to live thanks to its gorgeous landscapes, thriving communities, and appealing year-round climate. It’s no surprise that the people who call it home tend to dig in, embrace where they’re at, and make the most of the many benefits the area offers.

If you’re looking to spruce up your property with landscape plants for Tampa Bay homes, you’ve come to the right place. Despite the area’s challenges–including salt water, intense heat, and other environmental factors–there are many privacy shrubs for yards and trees for Tampa Bay landscaping that can enhance your residential property.

Check out our list below of some seriously stunning trees and shrubs that can transform your Tampa Bay yard for the better. As you peruse our favorites, keep in mind that we’re highlighting only a few of the many options that could take your landscape to the next level. Working with your local Tampa Bay landscaping company is the best way to create your idyllic home!

The Best Landscape Plants for Tampa Homes

Little Gem Magnolia

The “Little Gem” Magnolia could be the jewel in your landscaping crown thanks to its unique and appealing appearance. This aptly named flowering tree features dark, glossy leaves and large white blooms that create an eye-catching contrast, making it one of the best trees for curb appeal in Tampa Bay.

As the name implies, the “Little Gem” is smaller than its full-size counterpart, allowing it to function as a privacy shrub for yards or a small tree for Tampa Bay landscaping. These trees are considered to be one of the top drought-tolerant trees in Tampa Bay and have a reputation for durability.

One consideration to note is that the showy, fragrant blooms will slowly drop and decompose. They can make quite a mess, which is why investing in professional landscaping maintenance in Tampa Bay is recommended.

Crepe Myrtle

Bursting with white, pink, and red clusters of flowers occur in clusters, these ornamental shrubs for Tampa Bay are sure to bring positive attention to your residential property. Crepe myrtles are revered for being one of the most versatile landscape plants for Tampa homes thanks to their affinity for sunny locations. Just how versatile are these beauties? They can be used as medium-sized trees, small-sized trees, shrubs, ground cover, and beyond. 

While crepe myrtles do require pruning to remain healthy and encourage growth, the maintenance is easy to perform. Over-pruning is a common mistake when caring for them, so always work with an experienced and trustworthy Tampa Bay landscaper. Keep in mind that crepe myrtles are also sensitive to salt, so they will require extra attention if you live near the coast.

Frangipani

Whether you know it or not, you are probably familiar with frangipani. Thanks to the area’s tropical environment, these ornamental shrubs in Tampa Bay (also known as plumeria), are quite recognizable.

The blooms produced by these incredible plants are iconic. From trinkets in gift shops to Hawaiian leis, the undeniably beautiful flowers are truly stunning and come in a wide variety of colors and patterns. They’re highly valued for how bright, colorful, and vibrant they are, making them a desirable addition to any Tampa Bay landscape.

Frangipani are also relatively easy to care for and can be planted directly in the ground or in containers. If opting for the latter, more frequent maintenance is required due to their tendency to become rootbound.

In tropical environments, the colder months are generally not an issue. That being said, if Tampa Bay does experience an unusually cold day or two, it’s best to take any and every precaution to protect your plants. Frangipani are not equipped to deal with freezing temperatures or frost.

Geiger Tree

Dense, rounded, and evergreen, this tree for Tampa Bay landscaping is perfect for providing shade in addition to enhancing your residential property’s curb appeal. Geiger trees can grow up to a height of 30 feet and spread their branches over 25 feet wide. Even their trunks are impressive, sometimes reaching up to 12 inches in thickness.
 
The green leaves on this tree are rough, hairy, and can feel like sandpaper (they look good, but they’re not particularly pleasant to touch), and they also feature eye-catching orange blossoms that basically explode with vibrancy. There are few trees that look quite as spectacular and quintessentially Florida as the geiger tree.

If orange clashes with your style, you can opt for white and yellow blooms. You can even choose to plant these trees in containers or planters and limit them to be privacy shrubs for yards. Whether you use them as ornamental shrubs for Tampa Bay, small trees for your front yard, or big, shade-providing trees, geiger trees are a versatile and worthwhile option to consider.

Dwarf Poinciana

Dotted with brilliant yellow and scarlet flowers and bursting with feathery foliage that grows extremely quickly, this beautiful plant is one of the best trees for curb appeal in Tampa Bay. Not only does dwarf poinciana pack a serious punch of color, but it also brings exceptional versatility to any residential property.
 
Dwarf poinciana (also known as the Barbados flower fence) features multiple trunks and a shrubby appearance. This allows it to bridge the gap between shrubs and full-grown trees for Tampa Bay landscaping.

In addition to its vibrancy and versatility, this drought-tolerant tree in Tampa Bay brings textural intrigue thanks to its open-branched growth pattern and distinct leaves. It can be used as a privacy shrub for yards while providing an ornate touch.

You can choose to grow it in the shape of a large shrub or prune it to maintain a more tree-like appearance. It even flowers year-round, bringing excitement and life to your Tampa Bay home through all seasons.

Tibouchina Granulosa

With evergreen characteristics, this sprawling, ornamental tree has a nickname that makes perfect sense. Called the purple glory tree, the tibouchina granulosa is a shrub-tree combination that flaunts absolutely gorgeous purple blossoms. These jaw-dropping blooms flare open up to two inches and are a sight to behold when on full display.
 
The blooms are set against long leaves that are dark green and velvety, presenting an amazing contrast that can instantly upgrade your Tampa Bay landscape. Beauty isn’t the only winning characteristic of tibouchina granulosa, either. As one of the best trees for curb appeal in Tampa Bay, this versatile plant can act as a shrub or grow anywhere from 15-20 feet tall and wide.

Standard Bottlebrush

The bottlebrush plant is among the top shrubs for Tampa Bay residential landscapes for a variety of reasons. It is a striking plant with a unique, unmistakable appearance. It also attracts wildlife (including butterflies and hummingbirds), while being easy to maintain. Talk about a win-win!

Best known for its striking and distinctive flowers—bright red spikes that look like a bottle washer–bottlebrush serves as an undeniably desirable ornamental shrub in Tampa Bay. As an upright species, the standard bottlebrush can make an exceptional privacy shrub for yards, too. It even has the potential to grow as high as a tree–up to 25 feet.

The bottlebrush thrives in full sun, is considered a drought-tolerant tree in Tampa Bay, and can handle salt as well. In other words, it is a plant any Tampa Bay homeowner should consider including in their landscaping.

Golden Dewdrop

Looking for a showy shrub? The golden dewdrop is a small, wild shrub that is as stunning as it is versatile. With wild, golden-yellow berries, this ornamental shrub in Tampa Bay has a unique look that is complemented by occasional outbursts of gorgeous purple flowers. It’s a jaw-dropping combo when in full bloom, and the wonder it works for your curb appeal cannot be overstated.

As beautiful as they may be, it’s vital that you don’t eat any of those berries. They’re poisonous to humans, so only look–don’t touch!

Golden Dewdrop grows best in full sunlight, though it will tolerate a little partial shade, too. While the shrub can be tamed, it takes frequent trimming. If you allow the plant to run wild, it will impress with its natural beauty and reach heights of up to 18 feet.

Jacaranda

For those of you looking for a potentially enormous addition to your landscape, look no further than the Jacaranda. This larger-than-life tree can grow up to 100 feet in height, making quite the statement on any residential property in Tampa Bay.

With soft, fern-like, and deciduous foliage, the Jacaranda has dense clusters of fragrant, trumpet-shaped flowers in varying shades of light-lavender blue that bloom from April through August. These trees are as beautiful as they are mighty. They also provide a substantial amount of shade, creating the perfect blend of form and function.

These fast-growing trees for Tampa Bay landscaping do best in full sun, have a high drought tolerance, and can thrive in all kinds of soil.

Tabebuia

With over 100 variations, the tabebuia tree is both lovely to look at and versatile for your residential property. They can feature single or multiple trunks, and all include clustered blooms that are sure to enhance your landscaping in the spring.

Warm locations (hello, Tampa Bay) with soil that has good drainage are a must. That being said, these trees for Tampa Bay landscaping are able to adapt to a multitude of growing conditions. If you’re ready to transform your outdoor space with beautiful, durable trees that provide both aesthetics and shade, you’ve come to the right place.

How Landcrafters Can Help You Choose Trees and Shrubs for Tampa Bay Residential Landscapes

Our main goal at Landcrafters is to ensure we’re building and maintaining a stunning landscape that speaks to your vision. Helping you choose, plant, and care for the right shrubs and trees for Tampa Bay landscaping is among the most important steps in that process.

Whether you’re looking for small trees for front yards or ornamental shrubs in Tampa Bay, Landcrafters prides itself on its custom-tailored designs and use of only the best plants. To start your landscape transformation, feel free to contact our experienced team of professionals or fill out the form below. We’ll gladly answer your questions and guide you from the design phase all the way to regular maintenance.

Image Source: Little Gem Magnolia, Crepe Myrtle, Frangipani, Geiger Tree, Dwarf Ponciana, Purple Glory Tree, Bottlebrush Tree, Golden Dewdrop, Jacaranda