Try to keep as much of the existing vegetation as possible. If a plant grew in an area without your help, then conditions there are obviously right for it. Choose plants that can survive on normal rainfall in your area or that require minimal irrigation. Existing native-plant communities are an example of the "right plant in the right place." There are also nonnative plants cultivated specifically for Florida conditions that are water-efficient and resistant to disease and pests. However, there are also some plants that do too well because they don't have any natural balances in the Florida environment, and they become highly invasive.

And remember, the success of your waterwise landscape depends as much on where you locate plants as on what plants you use. Plant it smart!

Learn each plant's

• Mature size (height and width)
• Sun and shade requirements
• Soil needs
• Water needs
• Salt and cold tolerances
• Match these factors with your soil and climatic conditions.

Many areas in Florida have salt prevalent in the air and the water; this is particularly true near the coast and salt marshes. Salt can even find its way into wells. Exposure to salt may severely damage or kill some plants, so if necessary, choose plants that can tolerate such exposure. Salt is alkaline, so a plant's tolerance for salt indicates its tolerance to alkalinity.

Where does this salt originate? Homes near the beach experience salt spray, with stiff winds blowing fine particles of salt and sand onto plants. Different plants can take varying degrees of this salt exposure. Some can't tolerate it at all. Consult the County Cooperative Extension Service for a list of additional salt-tolerant plants.

Irrigation water may also be salty, or saline. In some areas, the water taken from the ground is naturally high in salt. Other areas suffer from saltwater intrusion, where salt water moves underground into freshwater aquifers due to overpumping of the aquifer. If the salinity level in irrigation water is too high, the water can kill plants. Also, be aware that some household water treatment systems add salt to the water to remove iron or other minerals. Don't use this water for plants.

Use this guide and consult a plant specialist to determine if a plant is salt-tolerant. If you suspect salt problems, have your water tested for salt content. Contact your County Cooperative Extension Service for more information about testing water for salt.

The general vegetation map of Florida (on page 9 of this guide) indicates the original native-plant communities throughout the state. Different plant communities often converge gradually in what is called ecotones -- regions where one ecosystem blends into another. Sometimes pockets of one community are surrounded by another.

Observing the differences in ecotones can help determine differences in the landscape, helping to identify the best plants for the microclimates throughout the landscape.