• Ripening Florida orangesflorida citrus fruit image by Edward Cooper from Fotolia.com
  
  Florida's sunny weather and exciting attractions tempt tourists, but some of the most stunning sights in the state are provided by nature. The mild, warm climate in Florida is perfect for tropical and sub-tropical plants, fruit-bearing trees and flowers that bloom again and again. The flowers and plant list for Florida is extensive and extremely varied.
  
  

Elephant Ears

• Elephant ear leaveselephant ears image by robert mobley from Fotolia.com
  
  Native to Central Florida, elephant ears get their unusual name from the plant's extremely large leaves. The plant grows to a height of three to five feet, thriving best in tropical and sub-tropical conditions. Elephant ears, also known as taro, need lots of sunshine and warmth to grow, which makes them good indoor plants. In summer, the elephant ear blooms small green flowers.
  
  

Spider Flower

• Spider flowers (Cleome hassleriana) are annuals that grow white, pink or lavender blooms. Though pretty, spider flowers can be dangerous. Spines line the stem of the plant, so take care when handling spider flowers. Also known as spider legs and grandfather's whiskers, spider flowers reach 36 to 48 inches in height. Grow spider flowers in a place where they will receive full sun, spacing plants 18 to 24 inches apart. Spider flowers are frequent bloomers.
  
  

Elderberry

• Ripe elderberry fruitselderberries image by Clivia from Fotolia.com
  
  Elderberry (Sambucus simpsonii) is a popular ingredient in wines and food dishes, but it's also an attractive garden addition. Versatile elderberry may be grown as a tree or shrub. At full maturity, the plant reaches 10 to 15 feet in height. Elderberry plants need moist soil in order to stay healthy, though they are semi-tolerant to droughts and low water conditions. Plant elderberry plants in full to partial sun. The elderberry's leaves are three inches in length, and the plant produces small, aromatic white flowers, which bloom almost year-round. The black elderberry fruits (.25 inches in diameter) ripen during the summer.