Michael, I live very close to you, (Clermont) so what grows well in my garden should do well for you also. The plant that comes to mind for me is the yellow cestrum (cestrum aurantiacum). It is cold hardy where we live--down to about 15 degrees or so. Mine still have some flowers now. It blooms pretty much continuously.

I purchased a few of them some years ago, because I read that they were good hummingbird plants. They do attract hummers, but aren't the best ones one can find. They get big. I think mine are now around 12 to 15 ft. They have been forced to grow upwards by the plants around them.

Funny you should mention the magenta firespike. I was just sent some cuttings a few days ago. I have the purple and the red. Both are excellent in shade and both attract hummers. Right now the purple is in full bloom. It gets very tall and blooms in late winter and early spring. If we get a hard freeze they won't bloom at all. Thankfully, that hasn't happened for a few years now.

I'm sure you will get a lot of good suggestions here. I'm really only good for plants that attract hummingbirds and butterflies. The firespikes are excellent plants for both, but especially the hummers.

I was actually thinking Cestrum 'Orange Peel' before I even read the above post, excellent choice!

For the bed nearer to the lanai a camellia might be nice (like the weeping peacock variety), or one of the hybrid Michelia/Magnolia (Like Fairy Blush) for some winter color.

I like the cestrum and will look into that. Thank you for the suggestion and second.

I am not a big fan of camelias though. I was at Leu Gardens yesterday and many of their camelias were in full bloom and while they were pretty to look at and photograph, they just didn't 'speak to me'. Thank you though.

Gee, Michael, you visited Leu Gardens and the camellias didn't "speak" to you? Really, though, because of the warm weather most of the camellias there are well past their peak blooming cycle. The big negative for me with camellias is that they are so slow growing. There are many different types, but the ones that I have (maybe 15 or so) grow only inches each year. If they grow six or seven inches in a year that's pretty good for me. Compare that to the Cestrums that will grow over six feet in a year with the right soil and watering combo.

Camellias bloom in Central Florida at a time when there isn't much else in full bloom. They also will last for centuries in the right conditions (Leu Gardens.) The one thing that they share with the firespikes is that they will bloom profusely in shade--the best for both is light shade in my experience, although they will grow and bloom in almost full shade.

Hmm, then for a completely different look how about Alocasia "Okinawa"?

If you're looking at bamboo then Bambusa "Richard Waldron" is a great choice for a smaller area.

If you like palms, Chamaedorea microspadix grows quickly and gives a bamboo and palm like effect.

If you like cycads and are willing to spend a bit more then Ceratozamia hildae will fit the bill.

All of these are hardy in 9a though the Alocasia will get foliage damage from time to time.

It would help to know more about what "Speaks to you" if you want more suggestions. Maybe a theme?

It's kind of hard for me to put a finger on just what does catch my eye. I guess the best way to describe it would be 'edge of the woods", which is funny since my yard severely lacks shade. 'Natural' would be another descriptor. I am most definitely NOT into frilly, which I guess is what puts me off of camelias. I only have one rose bush and that is only because it was a house warming gift. I am also keen on tropical. My favorite part of Leu was the tropical waterfall area which led into the native wetland and palm/cycads area. Many of the plants they had there would burn to a crisp in my mostly sunny yard or get hammered in the winter. But I took notes on which ones would work and which ones I 'might' be able to push as the microclimate on the south side continues to develop.

Alocasias might be a way to go as the thin strip along the lanai leads to my tropical bed, so they could 'set the stage'. The thing that keeps me from doing bamboo there is that the strip is only 2 ft wide, so putting a bamboo at 12" or even 18" would have it very close to my screens. If I had more room to work with, I would expand the strip to 4 ft, but I don't.

I am also partial to the dea that form follows function. While I do have a few strictly decorative plants, most in my yard serve as a food source in some fashion, whether to wildlife or myself. Shelter is another thing I keep in mind.