Wildflower Facts

*The definition of a Florida native plant is a plant species whose natural range included Florida prior to European contact (about 1500 AD), according to the best available scientific and historical documentation.
 
*A naturalized plant is a non-native species that escaped into the wild. That has grown and reproduced on its own outside of cultivation without human assistance.

*Florida has approximately 2,800 native species and an additional 1,300 naturalized species. That is over 4,100 plants created by God, the supreme “Master Gardener”, to live and thrive in our climate.

*There is no point in Florida that is farther than 70 miles from warm marine waters. Consequently we have  moist, humid air that combines with our Florida heat. Many species of wildflowers from other states cannot tolerate our climate demands.

*Why are wildflowers and native plants so important? Because droughts, hurricanes, sandy soils, wet soils, floods, cold snaps, and salty sea breezes are all a part of Florida weather. Native plants have existed in Florida for thousands of years and have adapted to our climate, soils and wildlife.

*By using the right wildflowers and native plants you can greatly reduce the need to irrigate and fertilize. By planting a diverse assortment of native species you’ll support the balance of nature and reduce the need for using insecticides.

*Almost every environmental challenge you may encounter has been solved in nature with the right set of native plants.

*Why do we hybridize and try to change our plants??? Because often the natives do not flower as profusely as some of their hybridized cousins, their flowers may not have as many petals and they may not be a s compact and bushy. On the “up” side they require so little of us to thrive. Our vital pollinators often prefer them because many times the natives have more nectar. Many butterfly species will pick natives over exotics,

*More and more of our “greenspace”  is consumed as our population skyrockets. Wild animals, birds, bees and butterflies are being squeezed out of the habitat that they need for survival.

*When we alter the landscape for development we remove the natural resources on which all of our lives, and lifestyles, depend.

*There is an ever increasing need for  us to manage not only the existing forests and large landholdings but also the suburban lot, subdivisions, schools, parks, roadsides and highways.

*A unique collection of Florida native plants sustain each of our natural areas, including beach dunes, pinelands, scrubs, sandhills, hardwood hammocks and marshes. These natural areas provide us with clean air, drinking water, flood protection, stable soils recreation areas and natural beauty.

*There are 418 endangered plant species and 104 are endemic to Florida. Endemic means they occur nowhere else in the world. We need to protect our valuable native flora for our future generations to enjoy.

*The Florida Natural Areas Inventory has a publication out that identifies the endangered and rare plants that need our protection, “Field Guide To The Rare Plants Of Florida”

Florida Natural Areas Inventory, (850-224-8207),  www.fnai.org
www.plantatlas.usf.edu   has lists of native plants naturally occurring in each county in Florida. 

Florida  now has its own wildflower and native plant industry. The Wildflower Seed and Plant Growers Association  now has Florida grown Florida native ecotype wildflower seeds  available for sale (www.FloridaWildflowers.com) For pound quantities only.  Also the growers do not mix species yet so you have to order quantities of a single species at a time and mix your own. For quantities under 1 or 2 pounds order through Wildflowers Matter, a FFGC program through the Native Plants and Wildflower Chairman, Dara Dobson  (850-859-0096).  You can order envelopes or portions under a pound up to 2 pounds approx. Also you can order a mix if you prefer.
Florida native ecotype seeds are seeds that came from flowers that originated from naturally occurring wildflower colonies in Florida. Genetically they are from original true Florida wildflowers.

We now have seeds from the following Florida native ecotype species available:
      Coreopsis basalis (Dye Flower)
      Coreopsis leavenworthii (Leavenworth’s Tickseed)
      Rudbeckia mollis (Soft Hair Coneflower)
      Rudbeckia hirta (Black-Eyed Susan)
      Gaillardia pulchella (Blanket Flower)
      Phlox drummondii (Drummond Phlox)
      Flaveria linerais (Yellow Top)
      Ipomopsis Rubra, Standing Cypress

Sow wildflower seeds from late September through January

Wildflower seedlings are frost tolerant

Wildflowers do not like much fertilizer , if you must fertilize use less than full strength and a low nitrogen (0-10-10 or a very low first number).

There are  four areas of wildflower involvement, all equally important:
      1) Hunting and identifying
      2) Preservation of threatened and endangered species
      3) Private planting on personal property
      4) Civic planting, parks ,schools and Roadside beautification

* If we can preserve native wildlife , we can maintain the essential bond between people and nature that fosters a sense of stewardship for the land and its living creatures. We can all do our part whether we are  in a residential or rural environment by planting Florida native species and protecting our existing native plants