Frequently Asked Questions
Have a question about Florida’s wildflowers, planting or our programs? This page provides answers to some of the most frequently asked questions we receive. If you don’t find an answer here, please email us at info@flawildflowers.org
Education and Outreach
You can request a speaker from the Florida Wildflower Foundation here.
Our brochures and handouts are available to order for education and outreach here. All handouts are available as downloadable PDFs that you can self-print.
Get Growing
We do not sell wildflower seeds on our website. If you purchased wildflower seeds and have a question about your order, please direct it to the organization you purchased from. If you are interested in purchasing Florida native wildflower seeds, we suggest the Florida Wildflower Growers Cooperative. Occasionally, we will sell seeds and plants at in-person events.
Florida native wildflower seeds can be purchased from the Florida Wildflower Growers Cooperative.
To find a native plant retailer near you, visit www.PlantRealFlorida.org.
Here in Florida, we can plant just about anytime except when there’s a freeze. Summer is the rainy season, so planting during this time usually means less of a need to water. Temperatures are higher in summer, too, so water is essential for cooling the soils. Planting in fall typically means temperatures are cooler, which is better for the plants, but that is also our dry season, so you may need to water more frequently. Regardless of the season, plants will need to be watered (whether naturally by rain or by hand) until they are well established. For information on when to sow seed in Florida, refer to “Seeding Dates for Native Wildflowers and Grasses.”
When incorporating native plants into your landscape, the best approach is to select regionally appropriate plants that are suitable for your conditions. This may or may not include rare, threatened or endangered plants. While some rare species are available from reputable native plant growers, for the most part they are plants that require very specific environmental factors, are not suitable for cultivation and do not survive in urban landscape settings. The best thing to do to protect rare and endangered plants is to champion and support land conservation efforts for the places they grow naturally.
The primary way for plants to be banned/removed from sale is for them to be added to the Federal Noxious Weed List and/or State Noxious Weed List. The Federal Noxious Weed list process is complex and extremely slow moving; however, the process for having a species added to the state list is more straight forward and accessible. The UF IFAS Assessment of Non-Native Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas has been petitioning to have species added to the state list and has recently succeeded in restricting Beach vitex (Vitex rotundifolia), Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana) and Camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora). Conservation groups can support this legislative solution by petitioning directly or partnering with UF IFAS Assessment efforts. Species most likely to succeed in getting listed are those that land managers can demonstrate an ability to effectively contain or even potentially eradicate from localized areas or the state. Unfortunately, many of the invasive plants that are already very widespread such as Asparagus fern (Asparagus aethiopicus), Lantana (Lantana strigocamara) and Britton’s petunia (Ruellia simplex), would not be considered. It is also important to understand that horticulture is a major economic driver in Florida, and the most impactful solutions are going to be those achieved through collaboration and partnership with industry and through changing consumer preferences. Ultimately, the most important thing that the Florida Wildflower Foundation, Florida Native Plant Society, and other groups can do is educate people about this issue! Educated consumers have the most power to influence the horticulture market and protect Florida’s natural areas. Learn more about invasive plants in Florida here.
Getting to Know Florida’s Wildflowers
Observing specific wildflower species may require a little research to learn about their natural range, habitats and bloom seasons. We’ve got more than 350 plant profiles to get you started. Other online resources such as iNaturalist, the Atlas of Florida Plants and the Institute for Regional Conservation can help. Your local Florida Native Plant Society chapter is also a great resource to help you get to know the wildflowers in your area and they often host field trips.
There are a lot of great resources to help you identify plants. Your local Florida Native Plant Society chapter and UF IFAS Extension Office are great places to start. Online resources include the Atlas of Florida Plants and well moderated Facebook groups such as Florida Native Gardening and Florida Native Wildflowers.
A note about plant ID apps: There are numerous plant identification apps available, including iNaturalist, Seek, PlantSnap, PictureThis and Planta, to name a few. These apps are great for narrowing a plant down to its family or genus, but they are not as accurate at the species level. It is best to verify app IDs with the Atlas of Florida Plants or a reputable Facebook group. We recommend iNaturalist — when you post an observation, it can be confirmed by experts.
Community and Roadside Wildflowers
You can engage your city in a variety of ways. Start by contacting the sustainability department if your city has one, or find a supportive city commissioner to help navigate you through the process. Consider initiating a Wildflower Resolution or discussing your ideas with the public works department. The approach will vary based on your city’s size, existing initiatives and your connections. Building a coalition of concerned neighbors and environmental groups can also be beneficial. Remember, sometimes it’s best to start small!
The Florida Wildflower Foundation advises FDOT and counties, but does not implement or manage plantings. We offer management plans and standard operating procedures, including guidelines for mowing extent, width and frequency. While we provide guidance to roadside vegetation managers, we do not and cannot enforce these plans.
Many roadside wildflowers occur naturally and are managed to allow them to bloom and disperse seeds. To determine who manages a particular roadside, confirm if it is a state, county or municipal road. State roads are managed by the FDOT district in which they occur. You can find your district Wildflower Coordinator here. Rarely, roadside plantings are managed by permitted groups outside of FDOT.
First, determine who is responsible for the maintenance contract of the roadside you are interested in protecting. If it is a State road, check if your county has adopted a Wildflower Resolution here. If no resolution is in place, you can find instructions on how to get one passed on the same page.
If a resolution is in place, work with a county official to request the state to adopt the roadside into their program. For county roads, speak with public works officials and present a request. Contact Marina Mertz at MMertz@FlaWildflowers.org for assistance.
When you see wildflowers on roadsides, use our form to let us know. We will identify the agency responsible for maintaining the roadside and may be able to advise how to effectively manage it. When you contact us, identify the road and include the beginning and end points of the potential wildflower area. If possible, include notes about wildflower and weed species seen in spring, summer and/or fall, as well as habitat type or concerns.
To report issues such as incorrect or poorly timed mowing in an existing wildflower area, please fill out our form.
A 2019 FDOT study, “Safety Effects of Reduced Mowing,” found that concerns about reduced mowing affecting safety were largely unsupported by empirical evidence. Reduced mowing only applies to areas beyond the “safety strip,” which is maintained for motorists to safely pull over and exit vehicles.
Pollinator mortality along roadsides is inevitable, but studies have shown that the actual number of fatalities is negligible compared to total pollinator populations. Studies also suggest that viable habitat along roadsides may in fact reduce the number of fatalities compared with occurrences on roadsides without habitat. In other words, viable habitat will attract pollinators, which may keep them from entering the roadways.
The State Wildflower License Plate
All the information you need to get the plate can be found here.
YES! Becoming a license plate holder includes membership to the Florida Wildflower Foundation. You just have to register your membership with us here.
The Indian River Tax Collector’s Office asks that you allow up to a week for them to respond. If it has been more than a week since you filled out the form, please email us at Info@FlaWildflowers.org and we will look into it.
If you purchased a license plate directly from Indian River County’s online form on our website, but your registration is within the three-month renewal period, your order will be cancelled. You should receive an email from the Indian River Tax Collector’s Office with the notification of cancellation. You will need to fill out this form to receive a call from the Indian River Tax Collector’s Office to assist with ordering your plate. If your purchase request was not within the three-month renewal period, and you did not receive the plate, you will need to fill out this form to receive a call from the Indian River Tax Collector’s Office.
Support Us
Membership is a wonderful way to support our work! Learn about our program and how to join here.
Volunteer opportunities vary throughout the state. If you are interested in volunteering, please provide your contact information via this form.
Yes, there are ways in which you can leave a legacy to the Florida Wildflower Foundation. While we cannot offer legal advice, we encourage you to talk to your financial advisor or lawyer. For more information, click here.