Tropical Yards serves all of St. Johns County with tropical plants, palm trees, and bulk coquina shell. We deliver to St. Augustine, St. Augustine Beach, Ponte Vedra, Ponte Vedra Beach, Nocatee, World Golf Village, Fruit Cove, and Julington Creek. Our home county. Our lowest delivery rates start here at $250.
St. Johns County sits at the northern edge of Florida's subtropical zone. Most of the county falls within USDA hardiness zone 9a (minimum temperatures 20–25°F) with coastal communities on Anastasia Island, Vilano Beach, and along the Ponte Vedra shore reaching into zone 9b (25–30°F). This distinction matters significantly for tropical plant selection — zone 9b properties can sustain a broader range of frost-sensitive tropicals with less winter risk.
The county's soils are predominantly sandy — poorly suited to moisture retention, but excellent for drainage. This is both a challenge and an advantage for tropical landscaping. Sandy soil drains fast, which means tropical plants that dislike wet feet (most palms, bougainvillea, cactus-adjacent species) thrive naturally. However, sandy soil also means organic matter depletes quickly, so fertilization and mulching are important for maintaining soil health around newly planted tropicals.
Coastal salt spray is a real factor in St. Johns County landscaping, particularly for properties within a half-mile of the ocean or Intracoastal Waterway. Salt-tolerant tropical plants are essential for front yards and windward exposures in Vilano Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach, St. Augustine Beach, and beachside sections of Anastasia Island. Good choices include sabal palms (Florida's state tree and extremely salt-tolerant), sea oats, ornamental grasses like muhly grass, and native coastal shrubs. Our team can advise on the best salt-tolerant tropicals for your specific location when you call.
St. Johns County is one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States, consistently ranking among the top 5 nationally by growth rate. Communities like Nocatee (a master-planned development in Ponte Vedra) and the Rivertown and RiverTown communities in St. Johns attract thousands of new residents annually. Many homeowners in these newer developments start with builder-grade sod and minimal landscaping, then invest in tropical plants and coquina shell improvements to personalize their properties.
Our home base. St. Augustine homeowners have used coquina shell in their landscapes for generations — it's the natural, historic ground cover that complements the architecture and heritage of the nation's oldest city. From historic district properties to beach homes on Anastasia Island, we serve the full range of St. Augustine landscaping needs. Delivery fee: $250.
Popular for: coquina shell driveways, palm trees for curb appeal, hibiscus borders, and bougainvillea fence coverage.
Ponte Vedra's upscale golf and beach communities demand high-quality landscaping materials. The TPC Sawgrass corridor, Palm Valley neighborhoods, and waterfront Ponte Vedra Beach properties are among our most active delivery areas. Sandy soil and oceanfront exposure require thoughtful plant selection — we specialize in salt-tolerant tropicals that thrive in this environment. Delivery fee: $275.
Popular for: Large specimen palms, privacy hedging with clusia and viburnum, and coquina shell pool surrounds.
Nocatee is one of the most active landscaping markets in St. Johns County. As a massive master-planned community between St. Augustine and Ponte Vedra, Nocatee has added thousands of homes over the past decade. Homeowners in Nocatee's Crosswater, Seabrook Village, Millenia, and Twenty Mile neighborhoods regularly order tropical plants and coquina shell to upgrade their builder-grade yards. Delivery fee: $250.
Popular for: Full front-yard tropical transformations, coquina shell driveways and walkways, and mass hibiscus plantings.
World Golf Village and the surrounding St. Johns communities benefit from St. Johns County's award-winning schools and proximity to I-95. Properties here tend toward larger lots with established oak canopies — tropical plants and coquina shell provide bright color and texture contrast beneath and around these mature trees. Delivery fee: $250.
Popular for: Tropical foliage in shaded beds, ornamental grasses in sunny borders, and coquina pathways.
The Fruit Cove and Julington Creek area — along the St. Johns River corridor near the Duval County line — is characterized by larger suburban lots, established neighborhoods, and a culture of outdoor living. Many homes here have extensive backyard pool areas, garden spaces, and long driveways that benefit from coquina shell. The slightly more inland location means marginally more frost risk than coastal communities, so cold-hardy tropical selections are appropriate. Delivery fee: $250.
Popular for: Cold-hardy tropical plants, large coquina shell orders for long driveways, and privacy hedging.
These barrier island and waterfront communities present unique landscaping challenges — and unique opportunities. Close proximity to the Atlantic and the Matanzas River means higher salt exposure, stronger winds, and sandy, well-drained soil. Sabal palms, sea grapes, ornamental grasses, and salt-tolerant flowering plants create lush coastal landscapes that look intentional rather than wind-battered. Coquina shell is the perfect ground cover for these properties — it's native to this coast and has been used here for centuries. Delivery fee: $250.
Call for a same-day quote on tropical plants and coquina shell delivered to your St. Johns County property.
Plant selection in St. Johns County should account for USDA zone, coastal exposure, soil type, and the unique microclimate of each neighborhood. Here are the best-performing tropical plants for our county based on years of local experience.
Sabal Palm (Sabal palmetto): Florida's state tree and the backbone of any St. Johns County tropical landscape. Sabal palms are completely cold-hardy in our zone, extremely salt-tolerant, and thrive in sandy soil. They require virtually no supplemental irrigation once established. Every St. Johns County property benefits from at least one sabal palm. We carry these in multiple sizes from nursery stock through large established specimens.
Windmill Palm (Trachycarpus fortunei): The most cold-hardy palm in our inventory, windmill palms handle zone 8b temperatures (10–15°F) — making them completely reliable throughout St. Johns County including inland areas with higher frost risk. Their textured trunk and feathery canopy create a dramatic focal point in any landscape.
Hibiscus: Tropical hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) performs beautifully in zones 9a and 9b. In St. Augustine proper and on the barrier islands, hibiscus can be maintained as a perennial shrub through mild winters. In Fruit Cove and Julington Creek where frost events are slightly more frequent, hibiscus acts as a vigorous re-sprouting perennial — even if frozen back, it returns from the roots in spring. We carry red, orange, yellow, pink, white, and bi-color varieties starting at $26.99.
Bougainvillea: Few plants deliver as much color impact per dollar in St. Johns County as bougainvillea. On fences, trellises, and pergolas in Ponte Vedra Beach and St. Augustine Beach, bougainvillea blooms nearly year-round, requiring only occasional pruning to maintain its shape. In zone 9a inland areas, a light freeze may cause dieback that regrows vigorously in spring. Salt-tolerant and drought-hardy once established. Starting at $26.99.
Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris): Native to Florida and thriving in St. Johns County's sandy coastal conditions, muhly grass produces stunning pink-purple plumes in fall. Completely salt-tolerant, drought-resistant once established, and spectacular when planted in masses along sunny garden borders. One of the best low-maintenance plants for coastal St. Johns County properties.
Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae): In zone 9b coastal areas, bird of paradise is reliably perennial and blooms several times per year. In zone 9a areas, it benefits from placement on south-facing walls or in sheltered courtyard settings. Its bold orange-and-blue flowers are unmistakably tropical and draw compliments in every St. Johns County neighborhood where it grows.
Coquina shell is the defining landscape material of St. Johns County. The soft limestone and shell sedimentary rock has been quarried in this region for centuries — the walls of Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine, completed in 1695, are built from coquina blocks. Today, coquina shell continues to define the aesthetic of St. Augustine landscaping and has spread as a preferred ground cover and driveway material throughout the county.
At $145 per cubic yard, Tropical Yards offers the best coquina shell price in St. Johns County. Delivery is $250 for St. Augustine and most surrounding communities ($275 for Ponte Vedra). One cubic yard covers approximately 100 square feet at 3 inches deep — the standard depth for driveway and pathway applications.
For St. Johns County homeowners in newer developments like Nocatee and World Golf Village, coquina shell driveways and pathways provide an immediate visual upgrade from standard concrete or asphalt. For Anastasia Island and Ponte Vedra Beach properties, coquina complements the coastal environment naturally — it's what this landscape has always looked like.
| Area | Cities/Communities | Plant Delivery | Coquina Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Augustine Core | St. Augustine, St. Augustine Beach, Anastasia Island, Vilano Beach, Crescent Beach | $250 | $250 |
| St. Johns West | World Golf Village, Fruit Cove, Julington Creek, Switzerland | $250 | $250 |
| Nocatee Area | Nocatee, Twenty Mile, Crosswater, Seabrook Village, Rivertown | $250 | $250 |
| Ponte Vedra | Ponte Vedra, Ponte Vedra Beach, Palm Valley, Sawgrass | $275 | $275 |
All delivery fees are flat per load. Coquina shell is $145/yard. Tropical plants start from $17.99. Call 772-267-1611 for a full quote.
Detailed pricing, coverage estimates, and application guides for coquina shell in St. Augustine and surrounding communities. $145/yard delivered.
Plant recommendations, salt tolerance guidance, and delivery information specific to Ponte Vedra and Ponte Vedra Beach properties.
For inland St. Johns County properties with more frost exposure — the best tropical plants rated to zone 8b and 9a for reliable year-round performance.
Most of St. Johns County falls within USDA hardiness zone 9a, with minimum temperatures of 20–25°F. Coastal communities — particularly Ponte Vedra Beach, St. Augustine Beach, Vilano Beach, and Anastasia Island — often reach zone 9b (minimum 25–30°F) due to the moderating influence of the Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway. Zone 9b properties can sustain a wider range of frost-sensitive tropical plants, including some that would struggle further inland in zone 9a.
St. Johns County's sandy, fast-draining soil is actually ideal for many tropical plants that dislike wet roots. Best performers include sabal palms, windmill palms, bougainvillea, muhly grass, ornamental grasses, firebush, pentas, and most hibiscus varieties. Plants that struggle in sandy soil include those requiring consistent moisture — these can be accommodated with drip irrigation and organic mulching around the root zone.
For beachside properties in Vilano Beach, St. Augustine Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach, and Anastasia Island, the most salt-tolerant tropical plants include sabal palms, sea grapes (Coccoloba uvifera), muhly grass, coontie, beautyberry, firebush, and shore juniper. Bougainvillea is also reasonably salt-tolerant once established. Avoid species with large, delicate leaves in highly exposed oceanfront positions — choose smaller-leaved, compact varieties instead.
Yes — Nocatee is one of our most active delivery areas in St. Johns County. We deliver to all Nocatee neighborhoods including Crosswater, Seabrook Village, Millenia at Nocatee, Twenty Mile, and Rivertown. The delivery fee to Nocatee is $250. Many Nocatee homeowners order tropical plant packages and coquina shell to upgrade their builder-basic landscapes. Call 772-267-1611 to schedule your delivery.
Coquina shell is $145 per cubic yard — the lowest price in St. Johns County. Delivery is $250 to St. Augustine and most surrounding areas ($275 to Ponte Vedra). A typical two-car driveway (20x20 feet) needs about 4 cubic yards — that's $580 in material plus $250 delivery to St. Augustine for a total of $830. Use our driveway cost calculator to estimate your project.
The ideal planting window in St. Johns County runs from mid-March through May, when frost risk is past and summer heat hasn't arrived yet. A spring planting allows roots to establish during mild temperatures before the stress of summer. Fall planting (October–November) is also good — plants establish through winter with minimal water demand and are ready to surge in spring. Avoid planting in July and August if possible — extreme heat stresses newly planted tropicals before roots are established. See our Spring Planting Guide for more details.
Yes — Fruit Cove and Julington Creek are part of our standard St. Johns County delivery area. The delivery fee to these communities is $250. These neighborhoods sit along the St. Johns River near the Duval County line and are slightly more inland than coastal St. Augustine, which means a marginally higher frost probability in cold years. We recommend cold-hardy tropical varieties like windmill palms, sago palms, and cold-tolerant hibiscus varieties for full sun positions in these communities.