Native Plants & Wildflowers

Native Plants and Wildflowers Barbara Rao 872 Bayport Circle Venice, Florida 34292 941-493-4002 401-524-5289 (cell)
NATIVE PLANTS Native Plants are a necessary addition to Florida gardens. By using natives you will garden with the right plant for the right place. This will allow you to use less water and less fertilizer. By using fewer natural resources there is a greater emphasis on creating a more sustainable environment. It is also a more economical way to maintain a lovely garden space. A plant is considered native when it has adapted to Florida’s climate, soil, and weather patterns. The definition of a Florida native plant from the Florida Native Plant Society (FNPS) “refers to those species occurring within the state boundaries prior to European contact, according to the best scientific and historical documentation. Most specifically, it includes those species understood as indigenous, occurring in natural associations in habitats that existed prior to significant human impact and alterations of the landscape”. The number of wildflowers and native plants are astronomical. In fact there are over 3, 000 native plants which provide food, nesting areas for wildlife and supply endless beauty. These wildflowers and natives adapt well to the environment, do not cause any problems with the habitat of endangered ecosystem, but provide a solution to the increasing extinction crisis. WILDFLOWERS Among the more common and readily attainable wildflowers which are also salt and drought tolerant are Stokes aster (Stokesia laevis,,zones 5-10) which is an easy care evergreen perennial blooming in he spring and summer with a shaggy, coneflower like bloom. It can be used as a foreground planting or as a border plant. The cut flowers last at least a week in a vase. Blanket Flower (Gaillardia pulchella, zones 8-10) may be red, yellow or orange attractively splashing color where planted. Lanceleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis lancelota, zones4-9) is a fast growing, long blooming perennial that has masses of bright yellow flowers in the summer. Beach sunflower (Helianthus, debilis zones8-12) is a reseeding annual even in freeze areas, where it will add a bright sunny jolt of color with yellow daisy-like flower heads. Many of these plants are used in community areas as well as publicly maintained grounds such as parks and beach walks. ADVANTAGES OF USING NATIVES AND WILDFLOWERS Over the years the state of Florida has developed rapidly with newcomers wanting instant landscape. By using turf farm lawns and heavy ornamentals from other areas without thought to growing conditions or climate, communities have created commercial cookie cutter areas that have lost the identity of a real Florida. Lady Bird Johnson, said, “Native plants give us a sense of where we are in this great land of ours”. That sense of place can only be obtained by using native plants and wildflowers. When planting Butterfly gardens and hummingbird visits be sure to plant Florida natives such as coral honeysuckle, cardinal flowers and firebush. SAVING WILDFLOWER SEEDS Remember to allow the seed heads to dry out before you cut them off. You can harvest them and sow them back in the ground yourself or let them fall off and reseed on their own. A mere 1/16 to 1/8 inch of soil is all they need to cover them. Please remember that if you mulch your beds for the winter that a thick layer will impede your seed germination, so go lightly around your wildflowers for the best results. If you have a wildflower strip or plot fall is a good time to mow over it. Adjust your blades to level of at least 3 to 4 inches. That allows the foliage at the base of the wildflowers to survive and you may even get a late fall/early winter bloom. The mowing knocks down the fall weeds that tend to show up at this time of year. Cutting them or pulling the unwanted weeds will help keep them from further encroaching your beds. ORDERING SEEDS Wildflower seeds in Florida can be ordered in bulk. Please contact me if you need assistance locating Florida grown Florida ecotype seeds. Here is a list from the Florida Wildflower Cooperative. When spring comes if you need help identifying the wildflower babies from the weeds you can e-mail me a photo. Photos of seedlings of the common wildflower species will be on the FFGC website under Horticulture/Wildflowers. If grass becomes a problem there are grass herbicides, (Ornamec, Fusilade II, etc.), that are safe to use on your wildflower beds. Early spring application will usually give you good results.
Plants Going to Seed

Coreopsis	Coreopsis	Coreopsis

	Dune Sunflower	Gaillarida Pulchella
What is the difference between a wildflower and a native plant? Florida’s flora includes more than 4,100 kinds of spontaneous occurring plants. There are 2,800 true Florida native plants included in that number. A true Florida native plant is a plant species whose natural range included Florida prior to European contact according to the best available scientific and historical documentation (about 1500AD). Florida’s 2,800 native plant list includes trees, shrubs, vines, ferns, grasses and flowering herbaceous species. Generally when people refer to wildflowers they include not only true Florida native herbaceous species, but many other naturalized flowering species and other non-native garden species that have escaped into the wild and are occurring spontaneously. But a true Florida wildflower is the class of flowering herbaceous plant species included in the total of 2,800 Florida native plants. Conservation of soil and water is the main goal of native plant landscaping. Properly grouping native plants in their natural associations can provide you with a pleasing look of subtle natural beauty. Native plants can be left untrimmed or they can be manicured if you desire a more formal look. After the initial establishment, these natives will thrive with a minimum of care. As a bonus, your naturalistic landscape will furnish food and shelter for birds, bees, butterflies and local wildlife. Florida’s Best Native Landscape Plants by Gil Nelson lists 200 readily available species being commercially grown for sale. Each plant featured in his book has a list naturally occurring companion plants which makes it much easier for you to choose the right plants to create sustainable naturalistic landscape groupings. Another book of interest is Native Florida Landscaping by Laurel Schiller and Dan Walton. This book covers information about various native Trees and Shrubs, Groundcovers, Palms and Vines as well as discussing a mindset change ot creates a naturalistic landscape. There are many books that promote he use f natives and wildflowers for our region. Many local libraries as well as good bookstores will carry these. Also, be sure to check FFGC website and Member Services catalogue for variety of books and Pamphlets.

Gaillardia pulchella	Coreopsis leavenworthii
Support the research and cultivation of our wildflowers by purchasing the Florida State Wildflower License Plate.	The Florida Wildflower Advisory Foundation (FWAF), established by Florida Statute in 1999, is charged with overseeing proceeds from sales of the State Wildflower Specialty License Plate. These proceeds are used to encourage an increased use and knowledge of Florida native flowering herbs, grasses and native plants in roadside and urban beautification projects. The Foundation's goal is to increase availability of native wildflower and plant choices that are not only attractive but also give a greater sense—to visitors and residents alike—of the unique and rich flora of the “Land of Flowers.” Florida Wildflower Foundation, for more information contact Carolyn Shaag –Liaison Edward.carolyn.shaag@juno.com
	This photo is of a project in south Walton County. Alys Beach was sent information on wildflowers and then he purchased Florida native ecotype Black Eyed Susans Rudbeckia Hirta, from our Florida growers and planted it along the roadsides of the subdivision.
Florida native ecotype Coreopsis Leavenworthii seeds were purchased from Florida wildflower growers. This beautiful field can be found in Okaloosa County.
	The Dogwood Garden Club purchased these seeds and planted them along the highway beside the Blue Star Memorial Marker.
Native Gaillardia pulchella
Rules for gathering Wildflowers 1. Observe trespassing laws and state laws for conservation of endangered and threatened species 2. Ask the owner for permission. 3. Lift only from colonies of 10 or and then leave at least half of them.4. 4. If possible collect from areas being cleared or disrupted. 5. Take only those for which you can realistically plant immediately. 6. If cutting wildflowers, never strip a plant of all its flowers. Leave some for seed.
Websites and Useful Information Attracting Hummingbirds to Your Garden with Wildflowers Best Native Ornamental Grasses Florida Native Plants History of the Wildflower program in Florida Florida Wildflower Council Native Wildflower Groundcovers, Northern Florida, PDF Native Wildflowers, Northern Florida Rev31199, PDF Florida Native Plant Society www.afnn.org Florida Wildflower Foundation www.florida wildflowerfoundation.org Wildflower Awards List, PDF Wildflower facts Wildflowers of Florida Wildflower Planting Methods Wildflower Program Outline Wildflower Seed Suppliers : The Florida grown Florida native ecotype wildflower seeds are grown by a cooperative group of farmers. The name of their organization is The Wildflower Seed and Plant Growers Association, Inc. This group has approximately 9 to 13 growers that grow an assortment of Florida native species. You can find more about their group on their website. Also I have included their e-mail for you. If you want bulk seeds contact them as soon as possible for availability. If you want a smaller amount , less that 1 pound , or any mixes you can contact me. I also have small envelope sizes that will plant a 4ft x 4ft area. Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, “Wildflowers Matter”, is a non- profit project to allow smaller amounts of Florida seeds to be distributed throughout our state. Wildflower Growers Assoc. * for small amounts contact Florida Federation of Garden Clubs “Wildflowers Matter” project: Barbara Rao 872 Bayport Circle Venice ,Florida 34292 941-493-4002 401-524-5289 (cell)

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Native Plants and Wildflowers