Julie.

You are going to have to rethink planting in Florida. Most hydrangeas do not work; rhododendrons never and I am not sure about brunnera.

There are some great books available in the gardening sections of book stores you may want to read.

Welcome to Florida,

Susan

I agree that you will never get rhodies down here. Some people have luck with hydrangeas, but mostly that's in Zone 8 around Jacksonville or the panhandle. In central Florida, they will survive...barely. They will never look like you are used to seeing up north, sadly. Hydrangeas and peonies are the two things I would most love to grow here.

On the plus side, there are many other things that thrive here which you could only grow as annuals up north. So it's a tradeoff.

The white oak-leafed hydrangea does pretty well in central Florida, so you might consider that one. And with some study of your local gardens and nurseries, I'm sure you will find lots of other things to try. Take a drive around the neighborhood and check out what's growing in yards you admire. That's a great way to figure out what is tried and true for your backbone plantings. Then you can experiment a bit with your own micro-climates.

Good luck! And be sure to keep checking here. We have loads of gardeners who will share their experiences with you.

Welcome to Florida!
Marcia

Rhododendrons have a Florida cousin. They are Azaleas and you will be happy with them since you are in zone 9. Some Hydrangeas will grow in the cooler parts of zone 9, but they are tricky.

Hi Julie & welcome to FL! I'm in South FL & have 2 hydrangea plants in large pots. They get morning sun & afternoon shade. I cut them back in May before it gets really hot. Right now they are just big beautiful green leaves. Once it cools off they'll be back. I didn't think I could grow them here either. But you can always get one and try.

Beverly

It is possible to grow them...but not too easy. I have had two bushes for a few years now (started from cuttings) - both get shaded sheltered conditions, lots of organic matter and lots of water.

Julie, welcome to the area. Get over to the Univ. of S. Florida Botanical Gardens in Tampa and walk around. You'll see some of the plants that grow in your area. They also have a plant shop there. They have a great plant sale several times a year. So does the Univ. of Tampa. Yes, I know, I miss the northern plants too, especially the bulbs, but there are so many great plants you can grow here, that I'm sure you'll find some. Gingers would work well in a shady area.

Olya, that plant is beautiful!
Julie

Here is a link that might be useful: USF Botanical gardens

Hydrangeas do just fine if planted on the north side of your home in the shade. I live in Jacksonville - here's a picture of mine.

BTW, Jacksonville is Zone 9A - see map at bottom.

{{gwi:882081}}

WOW, Love the yard, those are gorgeous! I'm jealous! Mine are really tiny and don't seem to want to grow at all but they do produce a bloom or two now and then!

Growing hydrangeas is all together different in Jacksonville as to growing them in Central and South Florida. We do not get the cooling hours.

Also consider the snails, there are many in my garden in S Fl and they love to dine on hydrangea. You would need to use snail bait or some other method to keep them at bay.

I was wondering if that is an older map, the ones I've seen include most of St Lucie county in zone 10. :o)

I agree with bodiggly...you can't compare what you can grow in Jacksonville with what grows in central Florida. Jacksonville has lovely, big dogwoods, hydrangeas and lots of other plants that are really on the southernmost border by the time they get here. Also range maps differ on which zone Jax is, but 8 or 9A, either way, it's different from down here.

Olya, your hydrangeas are lovely, and I agree that they CAN be grown here, if you are willing to go the extra mile for them, and you put them in exactly the right spot. But they never get HUGE and full and lush like they do in cooler areas. I've seen hydrangeas as tall as my head in North Carolina, and as wide as a car. Never gonna happen in central Florida. NOT to say don't try them...just don't expect the same things. And if I thought I could get one as pretty as yours, Olya, I sure WOULD give it a shot!
Thanks for the pics!

Marcia

Welcome, Julie, to the insane world of FL Gardening. You may have noticed a common thread in your responders.
Love_the_yard and olyagrove both mentioned shade and northside or 'sheltered', that I'll bet means northside, while shellfreak has probably mounted her's on wheels. LOL
Katkin and manature don't agree with the zone map.
My point is to make you aware of what most of us grew up with or learned so well its become reflex, like breathing, and don't think to tell newcomers.
Florida is the land of micro-climates! Each side of your house has different sun exposure and duration = HEAT. 'Full Sun' does not mean FL full sun. Now add the sun/shade factor and nearness to water (lake, river, canal, ocean) or large amounts of concrete, like cities. Did I mention drainage areas of your yard which is good to know in case it rains. Ah yes, the rains. Ranging from the localized (while you're wading to your BBQ, your friend a mile away is watering his Cactus) to the monsters that we will not name and everything in between.
Got all that, Julie? You're almost ready to become a FL Gardener.
For the final information, you need to talk to long-term residents of FL - 50 years or more. Whenever you talk to them, the answer will be the same, "This is the (coldest, hottest, wettest, driest)month/season I've ever seen." or "The month/season of (year) was (drier, etc)."
They are not lying! That's the way it is, and I wouldn't change it for the world.
Final thoughts. FL Gardeners are, mostly, harmless. Digging in their gardens, chatting happily about their plants and, occasionally, shaking their fists at the sky for lack of or, too much rain. However, never say the word "SWAP" in their hearing. Their eyes start to glaze, hands start to clench and, they race for the nearest communication device to spread the infection. A sad affliction.
Frequent intake of cooling beverages is recommended, preferably with alcohol, to prevent overheating and to numb the brain to what you have become: a FL Gardener!
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

We lived in Zephyrhills for a few years and had huge azalea and hydrangea bushes.. the azaleas were in full sun and were about 12' high and about 14 across, covered with blooms. The hydrangea was probably only about 5' tall and 6 feet across, morning sun only and great afternoon shade. We kept chopping it back so it didn't take over that corner of the yard. ZHills seemed to run a bit colder...

Very well put, Lakeron! It's true...we live in the Land of Microclimates! (See buttterflyy's post about HER hydrdangeas). While I still believe firmly that hydrdangeas are not a great choice for Central Florida, it's obvious that some folks have made them work here, at least to a degree. (5 feet tall is a MIRACLE here, though) So maybe the real answer is, TRY it. It just might work. But be sure to do the things mentioned above...shade, northern exposure, etc...to give them the best shot.

I've had lovely azaleas here, too. We are on the southern border of their range, as well, but they DO grow here, and in some locations, very well. Winter Park was known for huge, old azaleas in shady front yards. These days, the shady front yards have largely disappeared, along with the older homes, to be replaced by huge mansions with a different style of landscaping. But I've seen azaleas here 10' tall and just as wide. They are (as mentioned above) our answer to rhodedendrons.

Whatever you try, julie, good luck!

Marcia

I have to agree with Lakeron about the intake of beverages. No-- I don't have mine on wheels. I love my plants, but I'm not gonna chauffeur them to shade :0

Beverly