The Land Remembers. So Do We.
Before Fort Lauderdale became a city, it was a living ecosystem. Our mission is to honor that heritage in every landscape we create.
Why South Florida Is Different
Most landscaping companies treat South Florida like anywhere else. They shouldn't.
Our subtropical climate, sandy soils, hurricane seasons, and unique hydrology create conditions unlike anywhere else in the continental United States. Plants that thrive in Georgia struggle here. Trees that dominate California die here. Generic landscaping approaches fail here.
But native South Florida plants? They were born for this. Cocoplums that laugh at salt spray. Live oaks that bend but don't break in hurricane winds. Sabal palms that actually prefer our sandy soils. Banyans that create the deep, cooling canopy that makes outdoor living possible even in August.
This isn't just better horticulture—it's ecological intelligence that saves water, reduces maintenance, and creates landscapes that become more beautiful with time instead of struggling against it.
Side-by-side demonstration showing thriving native cocoplum and sea grape alongside struggling exotic plants in identical conditions
Our Story: Rooted in Authenticity
South Course Landscaping grew from a simple observation: Fort Lauderdale's most timeless and beautiful properties honored the land's natural character.
The Old Fort Lauderdale
Walk through the historic Las Olas neighborhoods, the original golf course communities, the estates along the New River. The landscapes that have endured—that still take your breath away after decades—share common elements.
Towering live oaks creating cathedral canopies. Native palms providing structure and movement. Layered understories of indigenous shrubs. These weren't designed to follow trends. They were designed to belong.
These properties understood something that modern landscaping often forgets: in South Florida, working with nature isn't just more sustainable—it's more beautiful.
Original 1950s estate landscape showing the deep, layered native canopy that defines authentic Fort Lauderdale aesthetic
Why Cookie-Cutter Landscaping Fails
Climate Ignorance
Most landscape companies use the same plant palette whether they're in Arizona or Florida. Plants selected for their catalog photos, not their ability to thrive in our subtropical humidity and hurricane seasons.
Maintenance Treadmills
Exotic plants that don't belong here require constant intervention—excessive watering, chemical treatments, replacement cycles. You end up paying twice: once for installation, and forever for life support.
Ecological Blindness
Landscapes designed without understanding soil, drainage, native plant communities, or wildlife relationships create beautiful problems instead of beautiful solutions.
The Result?
Landscapes that look great for six months, then spend years struggling to survive. Properties that could support authentic South Florida beauty instead fighting to maintain artificial aesthetics.
We've seen too many beautiful properties trapped in this cycle. Homeowners pouring money into landscapes that never quite thrive. Historic properties losing their authentic character to trendy but inappropriate plant selections.
Time-lapse concept showing native landscape maturing: Year 1 installation through Year 5 established ecosystem
Our Philosophy: Authentic South Florida
We don't impose landscapes on land. We discover what wants to grow there.
Every property has a story written in its soil, its drainage patterns, its existing mature trees, its relationship to sun and wind. Our job is to read that story and honor it.
This means choosing native banyans over struggling ficus. Cocoplums instead of boxwood hedges that melt in our summer heat. Sabal palms that move gracefully in hurricane winds instead of exotic palms that snap.
It means understanding that South Florida's most beautiful landscapes aren't manicured—they're mature. They develop character over time instead of requiring constant renovation.
What This Means for You
- • Lower long-term maintenance costs
- • More beautiful with each passing year
- • Hurricane and drought resilience
- • Wildlife habitat and ecological value
- • Authentic South Florida character
What Makes South Course Different
Deep Ecological Knowledge
We don't just know plants—we understand ecosystems. How native plant communities work together. Which species create the structural backbone. Which provide seasonal interest. How to layer canopy, understory, and groundcover for maximum beauty and sustainability.
Estate-Level Craftsmanship
Native doesn't mean wild. Our installations reflect the refined aesthetic of South Florida's finest properties—structured but not rigid, lush but not chaotic, naturalistic but unmistakably designed.
Long-Term Vision
We design landscapes that become more valuable and beautiful over time. Every plant placement considers not just how it looks today, but how it will contribute to the property's character in five, ten, twenty years.
Authentic Sourcing
We work with native plant nurseries that understand provenance and genetic diversity. Our trees and plants aren't just "South Florida natives"—they're the right ecotypes for your specific microclimate and soil conditions.
Site-Specific Design
No cookie-cutter solutions. Every design responds to your property's unique conditions—soil type, drainage patterns, existing mature trees, architectural style, and your family's outdoor living needs.
Maintenance Wisdom
Our management programs work with native plant cycles and seasonal patterns. Less intervention, more intelligence. Landscapes that thrive because they belong, not because they're forced.
Rooted in Fort Lauderdale
Our team combines decades of South Florida landscaping experience with deep knowledge of native plant ecology and sophisticated design sensibilities.
We're licensed landscape contractors and certified arborists who chose to specialize in what we believe represents the future of South Florida landscaping: authentic, sustainable, and breathtakingly beautiful native landscapes.
This isn't just our profession—it's our passion. Every project is an opportunity to show what's possible when South Florida properties honor their natural heritage.
Licensed & Certified
State of Florida landscape contractor licenses and certified arborist credentials
25+ Years Experience
Combined decades working specifically with South Florida native plant communities
Broward County Specialists
Deep local knowledge of soil conditions, microclimates, and community character
Ready to Discover What Belongs?
Every property has a story. Let's uncover yours and create a landscape that honors both the land's heritage and your vision for beautiful outdoor living.