Florida State University Grounds and Landscaping

Florida State University Grounds and Landscaping The Grounds and Landscaping department creates and maintains a beautiful landscape for FSU students, faculty, and visitors to enjoy.

These are photos of ‘Muscogee Crape Myrtle blooming at the Student Union. The Muskogee Crape Myrtle was hybridized in 19...
05/29/2026

These are photos of ‘Muscogee Crape Myrtle blooming at the Student Union. The Muskogee Crape Myrtle was hybridized in 1964 and officially released to the public and commerce in 1978.It was developed by Dr. Donald Egolf at the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, D.C. as part of a specialized breeding program. Released alongside the white-blooming "Natchez" variety, these two trees made history as the very first U.S. National Arboretum hybrid crape myrtle introductions. The project successfully crossed Lagerstroemia indica with Lagerstroemia fauriei to introduce powdery mildew resistance and striking cinnamon-colored bark to the species. ‘Muscogee’ produces massive clusters of light lavender-purple flowers that bloom continuously for up to 120 days from mid-summer to fall. This variety rows quickly, reaching a mature height of 20–30 feet and a width of 15–20 feet. It features smooth, cinnamon-colored bark that peels as it matures to reveal a striking, mottled light gray surface.

May your morning open up to be sweet and beautiful beyond belief like a magnolia flower.
05/29/2026

May your morning open up to be sweet and beautiful beyond belief like a magnolia flower.

Tall Verbena (Verbena bonariensis is blooming at Einstein Brothers Bagels. This is a tall, fast-growing perennial in our...
05/28/2026

Tall Verbena (Verbena bonariensis is blooming at Einstein Brothers Bagels. This is a tall, fast-growing perennial in our area. It is bears clusters of lilac-purple flowers that float on slender, wiry stems. The foliage forms a low basal rosette at the ground level, while the tall stems are nearly leafless. This transparent architecture allows you to plant it anywhere—even at the front or middle of borders—without blocking the plants behind it. The nectar-rich, tubular flowers are highly attractive to butterflies and bees. It is recognized by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) as an excellent plant for pollinators. The square, sand-paper-textured stems are naturally sturdy and rarely flop. Once established, the plant is heat-tolerant, drought-resistant, and actively repels deer and rabbits. Native to South America, this elegant plant is a staple of cottage gardens, mixed borders, and wildlife-friendly landscapes.

A giant, waxy cup of cream,A Southern summer’s sweetest dream.Its ivory petals, rich and wide,Hold hints of lemon deep i...
05/28/2026

A giant, waxy cup of cream,A Southern summer’s sweetest dream.Its ivory petals, rich and wide,Hold hints of lemon deep inside.A heavy scent upon the breeze,It reigns in green, majestic trees.

'Bengal Tiger' Canna creates a good color accent in the landscaping at the Student Union. It is recovering from dormancy...
05/27/2026

'Bengal Tiger' Canna creates a good color accent in the landscaping at the Student Union. It is recovering from dormancy now and is opening its first flowers for this year. This plant is a sport of Canna 'Wyoming' that originated from experiments in the 1950s at India's Agri Horticultural Society. Canna 'Bengal Tiger' was awarded the prestigious Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit in 2002.

Stately emerald leaves of velvet sheen,A Southern giant, evergreen and keen,White opulent blooms scent the warm air,With...
05/27/2026

Stately emerald leaves of velvet sheen,A Southern giant, evergreen and keen,White opulent blooms scent the warm air,With lemon-sweet perfume beyond compare,Magnificent strength in a garden queen.

The Agave at Magnolia Hall is reaching for the sky!
05/27/2026

The Agave at Magnolia Hall is reaching for the sky!

Dr. Steve Christman (1945-2020) was a field biologist, naturalist, herpetologist and ornithologist, Steve was also an au...
05/26/2026

Dr. Steve Christman (1945-2020) was a field biologist, naturalist, herpetologist and ornithologist, Steve was also an authority on Florida botany, especially plants of the Florida scrub. He surveyed nearly the entire Florida Scrub and dodged bulldozers trying to save it. Many of Florida’s rare scrub species still exist today because of his efforts to preserve the lands they depend on for their survival, or because he helped rescue rare plant populations from development. He discovered the extremely rare scrub mint, Dicerandra christmanii, (Christman’s mint). He has enriched the web with his articles on trees, shrubs, groundcovers and perennials that grow in Florida at www.floridata.com. During a tour of his property at Lake Talquin, we were surprised to find that he purposely left a few large Mimosa Trees (Albizia julibrissin). The Mimosa is listed by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council as a Category I species, defined as an invasive exotic plant that is disrupting native plant communities. In many parts of Florida and the southeast, it has invaded road shoulders, abandoned fields and (in rare cases) natural habitats. Steve told us” I think its threat to natural plant communities is overstated. Crusades to destroy it are misdirected as it is already widely naturalized and being held in check by Fusarium Wilt disease. He said that he loved its graceful form, the delicate foliage and silky fragrant flowers that attract honeybees and hummingbirds. He said that it makes a beautiful lawn accent. The graceful, leafy canopy permits enough light for grass to grow right up to the trunk. Often planted (or volunteer seedlings are encouraged) around homes, decks, patios and porches where they provide summertime shade without threatening the roof. At FSU we have removed a number of Mimosa trees on campus due to it’s invasiveness but in memory of Dr. Christman we have also left a few in the Mendenhall A parking lot to enjoy!

Creamy white petals stretch wide to the sun,A fragrant, lemon-scented crown on deep green,Summer's grandest, velvet flow...
05/26/2026

Creamy white petals stretch wide to the sun,A fragrant, lemon-scented crown on deep green,Summer's grandest, velvet flower is undone.

Happy Memorial Day! The sky blue flowers of Plumbago give beauty to the entrance of the Key Shop. Although common names ...
05/25/2026

Happy Memorial Day! The sky blue flowers of Plumbago give beauty to the entrance of the Key Shop. Although common names include Leadwort and Skyflower we have always called it by the first half of it's Latin name (Plumbago auriculata). Native to South Africa it is now grown in warm climate areas across the globe. Plumbago starts blooming in the Spring, then continues through the hot days of Summer and even blooms some more in the Fall. Butterflies can often be seen visiting its blooms .Plumbago freezes to the ground on most Tallahassee Winters but recovers in the Spring.

A quiet dawn in May breaks cool and slow,Where giant glossy leaves and shadows blend,The ivory cups begin their fragrant...
05/25/2026

A quiet dawn in May breaks cool and slow,
Where giant glossy leaves and shadows blend,
The ivory cups begin their fragrant show,
With lemony scents on early winds they send.
The velvet petals catch the morning dew,
A Southern treasure wakes, in shades of white and hue.

Address

Mendenhall Bldg B (MMB) 965 Learning Way
Tallahassee, FL
32306

Telephone

+18506442805

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