Aquatic Wildflowers for Pollinators
Florida is a great place to garden near or in water with native wildflowers and plants. You’ll find a variety of areas where water is a permanent or temporary feature of the landscape including:
- Natural or man-made ponds or lakes.
- Graded stormwater retention ponds that collect and gradually drain excess rain runoff.
- Swales or ditches beside roadways that prevent excess water from reaching the road.
- Excavated rain gardens, which catch and utilize rain runoff from roofs and driveways.
All of these have the potential to become pollinator gardens as well as important habitat for a variety of insects and birds. Using a diverse slate of plants is the key to creating an area that supplies food, nesting areas and lifecycle support for a large variety of fauna.
Know Your Aquatic Plant Zones
Ponds, lakes and rain gardens with shallow graded slopes and deeper central pools are ideal for a variety of plants. Different water depths support different plant species, depending on their root structure and capacity for saturation. It is important to match each species with its preferred soil conditions:
- Upland areas sit above the shoreline and may have moderately to very dry, well-drained soils since water drains downslope. Upland areas include hardwood hammock, pine flatwoods, scrub, dry prairie and pine rockland habitats.
- Shoreline plants occur from the upland area to the water’s edge. They are adapted to moist or saturated soils and can tolerate periodic inundation. This is the optimal zone for planting aquatic wildflowers.
- Emergent plants are found in shallow water (up to 2 feet deep). Their roots may be temporarily or permanently underwater, while plant stems and leaves grow above water and adapt to changing water levels. These plants provide fish habitat, reduce water nutrients and improve water clarity.
- Floating plants occur in water up to 4 feet deep. They may be rooted in the soil or free-floating. Proper spacing of rooted plants will ensure sunlight reaches the pond floor.
- Submerged plants occur in deep open water where sunlight can still penetrate to aid in plant growth.
Planting and Maintenance Tips
Use a variety of wildflowers blooming in spring, summer and fall. Plant sparsely in clusters if you are using colonizing plants. Some species may spread quickly by root or rhizomes as they stabilize soil banks. Plants that are not in standing water may require watering for several weeks to become established.
Herbaceous perennials may die back in winter but will still provide habitat and nesting material. Plan on yearly maintenance to thin plant colonies by removing dead vegetation as needed. Refresh plants in spring by trimming old stems and be sure to remove pruned debris so water movement is not impaired. Excess debris that sinks to the pond floor can reduce oxygen levels and water clarity.
Retention ponds with steep sides may pose planting challenges due to drainage patterns. Determining the average water level is critical for successful plant establishment. Avoid excessive plantings that prevent the pond from achieving its purpose of controlling water runoff. Before planting, check county and local policies for planting in stormwater management ponds.
Great wildflowers for aquatic landscapes
Swamp milkweed
Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata ) has showy pink flowers that typically bloom in summer and attract many pollinators. It occurs naturally in floodplain swamps, hydric hammocks, wet pine flatwoods and…
Swamp milkweed
Swamp milkweed (Asclepias perennis) blooms in late spring through early fall and attracts many pollinators. It is a larval host plant for Monarch, Queen and Soldier butterflies.
Lemon bacopa
Lemon bacopa (Bacopa caroliniana) is a low-growing, herbaceous wildflower that typically blooms late spring through fall, but can bloom year-round. Its nectar attracts a variety of small pollinators.
Herb-of-grace
Herb-of-grace (Bacopa monnieri) is a creeping, mat-forming perennial that occurs naturally in coastal hammocks and swales, salt marshes, freshwater marshes and swamps, and along river, stream and ditch edges.
Burr marigold
Burr marigold (Bidens laevis ) is an annual wildflower with bright yellow flowers that bloom in late fall through early winter. They attract many bees and butterflies.
Bandanna-of-the-Everglades
Bandanna-of-the-Everglades (Canna flaccida) is a larval host for the Brazilian skipper; dragonfly larvae have been known to hide in the leaves until they change into adults.
Hairy chaffhead
Hairy chaffhead (Carphephorus paniculatus) is a stunning perennial wildflower found in moist flatwoods and savannas. It typically blooms from late August through December, with peak flowering in October.
Browne’s savory
Browne’s savory (Clinopodium browneii) is a highly aromatic plant that can be used to make a tea or to add mint flavor to a salad or other dish.
Mistflower
Mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum) gives the appearance of a blue fog when blooming en masse. Its flowers are very attractive to pollinators, especially butterflies, moths and long-tongued bees.
Leavenworth’s tickseed
Leavenworth’s tickseed (Coreopsis leavenworthii) is often used as a component of mixed wildflower and butterfly gardens, and is excellent for sunny roadsides, highway medians and powerline easements.
String lily
String lily (Crinum americanum) is an erect, emergent perennial with showy, fragrant blooms. It occurs naturally in wet hammocks, marshes, swamps, wetland edges, and along streams and rivers.
Interesting Eryngiums
You may know this group of plants as “rattlesnakemasters,” but the Eryngium genus includes seven Florida native species. They are attractive to a variety of pollinators, especially bees and Black…
Narrowleaf sunflower
Narrowleaf sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius) is one of Florida’s most common native sunflowers. In nature, it forms dense colonies, resulting in spectacular swaths of sunshine yellow when in bloom.
Comfortroot
Comfortroot (Hibiscus aculeatus) is a large perennial wildflower with showy cream-colored flowers. They typically bloom late spring through fall and attract many pollinators, especially bees.
Scarlet hibiscus
Scarlet hibiscus (Hibiscus coccineus) has large, crimson blooms that attract hummingbirds, butterflies and other pollinators. They remain open for only one day, but the plant produces many flowers throughout the…
Swamp rosemallow
Swamp rosemallow (Hibiscus grandiflorus) occurs naturally in marshes and swamps, wet ruderal areas, and along edges of lakes, ponds and rivers. It is often seen in large masses.
Blue skyflower
The beauty of the brilliant Blue skyflower (Hydrolea corymbose) cannot be clouded! This herbaceous perennial wildflower goes largely unnoticed — that is, until its bright blue blooms appear.
Alligatorlily
Alligatorlily (Hymenocallis palmeri) is a perennial wildflower endemic to cypress swamps, marshes, wet prairies, savannas and moist open flatwoods in Florida’s central and southern peninsula.
Prairie iris
Prairie iris (Iris savannarum) is an emergent aquatic with showy flowers that bloom in spring. It has one of America’s largest native iris flowers.
Virginia willow
Virginia willow (Itea virginica) is a spreading shrub with showy spikes of tiny white flowers that bloom late winter through early summer. The plant provides food and cover for wildlife…
Virginia saltmarsh mallow
Virginia saltmarsh mallow (Kosteletzkya pentacarpos) is a shrub-like wildflower with showy pink blooms. It occurs naturally in salt and freshwater marshes, swamps, sloughs, coastal swales and wet thickets throughout…
Carolina redroot
Carolina redroot (Lachnanthes caroliana) is a perennial herbaceous wildflower that blooms from summer into fall, attracting a variety of butterflies and moths.
Dense gayfeather
Dense gayfeather (Liatris spicata ) has striking spikes of purple flowers that bloom late summer through fall and are excellent attractors of butterflies, bees and other beneficial insects.
Cardinalflower
Cardinalflower (Lobelia cardinalis) is an aquatic wildflower with erect spikes of brilliant red blooms that attract hummingbirds, butterflies and bees.
Christmasberry
Christmasberry (Lycium carolinianum) gets its common name from the many bright red, egg-shaped berries it produces in December. While toxic to some animals, they are favored by many birds.
American lotus
American lotus (Nelumbo lutea) is an aquatic wildflower. Its fragrant, pale yellow flower is one of the largest blooms of any flowering plant in America.
American white waterlily
American white waterlily (Nymphaea odorata) is a floating aquatic plant. Its large, solitary, fragrant white flowers bloom spring through fall in swamps, marshes, slow-moving streams and shallow lakes, ponds and…
Goldenclub
Goldenclub (Orontium aquaticum) is a peculiar wildflower that blooms in winter and spring, and is pollinated primarily by bees, flies and beetles. It is the only living species in its…
Butterweed
Butterweed (Packera glabella) is one of the first wildflowers to bloom in early spring. It grows in dense stands that illuminate moist roadsides and river edges.
Frogfruit
Frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora) is both a versatile and vital wildflower. This evergreen perennial is low-growing and creeping, often forming dense mats of green foliage.
Eastern false dragonhead
Eastern false dragonhead (Physostegia purpurea) is an herbaceous perennial wildflower found in moist to wet pinelands and marsh and swamp edges throughout much of Florida. It blooms late spring through…
Pickerelweed
Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata) typically blooms in spring through summer and occurs naturally in open, aquatic habitats such as pond, lake or river edges, marshes and swamps.
Pale meadowbeauty
Pale meadow beauty (Rhexia mariana) is a perennial wildflower with showy pink blooms. It flowers spring through fall and attracts many bees and butterflies.
Starrush whitetop
Starrush whitetop (Rhynchospora colorata) is a unique and long-lived perennial sedge. It is known (and named) for its striking bracts that are often mistaken for a daisy-like flower.
Arrowhead
Arrowhead (Sagittaria spp.) is an emergent aquatic wildflower that typically blooms spring through fall. The flowers attract a variety of pollinators. The fruits are eaten by birds and other wildlife.
Lizard’s tail
Lizard’s tail (Saururus cernuus) is a perennial aquatic wildflower. Its tiny, white blooms are born in early spring through summer and attract a variety of pollinators.
Blue-eyed grass
The low profile of Blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) makes it an excellent groundcover choice. It is fairly adaptable to a variety of conditions.
Seaside goldenrod
Seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens ) blooms in showy masses on dunes, in swales and brackish marshes, on sandy soils in coastal areas, and occasionally inland throughout the state.
Climbing aster
Climbing aster (Ampelaster carolinianus) is a robust vine-like shrub that produces many fragrant daisy-like lavender to pinkish blooms. It is an excellent nectar source for many butterflies and bees.
Elliott’s aster
Elliott’s aster (Symphyotrichum elliottii) is a perennial wildflower and wonderful plant for attracting butterflies, bees and other pollinators due to its many fragrant blooms.
Wood sage
Also known as Canadian germander, Wood sage (Teucrium canadense) flowers attract a variety of native long-tongued insects that will use the flower’s lower lip as a landing pad. Birds find…
Alligatorflag
Alligatorflag (Thalia geniculata) occurs naturally in wetland depressions and cypress sloughs, and along the edges of marshes, swamps and wet ditches. It typically blooms summer through fall.
Bog white violet
Bog white violet (Viola lanceolata) is a diminutive perennial wildflower that occurs naturally in bogs and along the edges of ponds, marshes and other wetlands.
Common blue violet
Common blue violet (Viola sororia) is aptly named as it is the violet that is most common throughout Florida and is often seen in cultivated lawns.