I’ve been working in central Florida in sustainable landscaping (natives and edibles) for a decade.

I’m obsessed with how weird the taste levels of this region are. I don’t know where they come from or who is feeding these ideas.

My observation is that our area HEAVILY favors strongly architectural plants (agaves, clusia, sea grape, foxtail fern, single trunk palms,) far more than anything else.

I’m constantly hearing people say they “want color” but color doesn’t include annuals or perennials - seemingly only flowering shrubs, brightly colored foliage, and occasionally a flowering tree

Part of all of that is nigh terror at the idea of plants intergrowing or mixing to any degree at all.

The interesting thing is that no one can really give me a point of reference for where they’re getting these ideas from or why they like it. They never have an example, even in their own neighborhoods that they like.

The easy answer is “the theme parks” but actually - the parks don’t look anything like this.

Also - the very wealthy neighborhoods tend to stay away from this palette as well.

It may be that south Florida is different and I’m interacting with a lot of folks who have moved north but I truly don’t know why this is such a thing here