Try "Florida Friendly" landscaping

From Orange County

Happy Florida Native Plant Month! Create healthier communities by incorporating Florida-Friendly Landscaping in your yard. Save time and money with low-maintenance plants and environmentally sustainable practices.

The Florida-Friendly Landscaping Program

The Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program was created to include Florida Yards & Neighborhoods (FYN) program HomeOwner and FYN Builder and Developer programs and the Florida-Friendly Best Management Practices for Protection of Water Resources by the Green Industries (GI-BMP) Program in 2008.

Why Was the Change Made?

Traditionally FYN has served a homeowner audience, while the GI-BMPs are directed towards an audience of commercial horticulture professionals. Because Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ terminology is used in state law (F.S. Ch. 373.185), both UF/IFAS and FDEP felt it appropriate to find a name for the overarching philosophy that embraces both homeowner and industry audiences.

The 9 FFL Principles

It's important to know that the FYN programs and the GI-BMP program promote the 9 Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Principles, not the 9 FYN Principles. This is because the 9 Principles apply equally to homeowner and industry recommendations. Websites at both the state and county level should make sure that their terminology matches this directive.

How is the Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program Structured?

The Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ (FFL) program operates under the Center for Landscape Conservation & Ecology (CLCE), headed by Interim Director Michael Dukes, Ph.D., and is part of the Environmental Horticulture Department. CLCE faculty and affiliated faculty provide science-based landscape information on numerous disciplines to FFL programs statewide.

FFL, headed by Esen Momol, Ph.D., is composed of three programs:

• The FYN Homeowner program
• The FYN Builder & Developer program
• The Green Industry Best Management Practices (GI-BMP) program

FFL Organizational Chart

FFL Faculty Advisors

Where Should I Go For More Information?

• Contact the Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program staff.
• Contact the Information Office of the Center for Landscape Conservation and Ecology