The State Wildflower license plate has provided wildflowers to more than 400 Florida schools and public places. Get your tag to keep the good work going.
Viva Florida grants help show the way by providing funds for demonstration gardens in public places.
Campus gardens for schools get children outside to discover the natural world.
Planting grants supply resources that give wildflowers a dynamic presence in public places, at schools and along roadways. They provide hands-on experiences for adults and children while beautifying communities and parks, and creating an awareness of Florida’s natural landscape.
“My students have learned so much and have been very excited with the process of growing our wildflowers.”
— JoAnne McCarty, Sebastian Elementary School
Viva Florida Landscape Demonstration grants bring native beauty to parks, nature centers and other public spaces. These grants provide funds with which to purchase Florida native wildflowers and plants for public projects that showcase the beauty of Florida natives while demonstrating their uses. The goal of the program is to educate the general public about the role of native wildflowers and plants in supporting native pollinators, decreasing air and water pollution, providing wildlife habitat, and in general, creating a better environment for all Floridians.
Thinking of applying? Want to know more about the program? Join us at 2 p.m. on Dec. 2 for a free webinar and get the answers to all of your questions. Register today!
(Click each category for more information.)
The Viva Florida grant program is currently closed. Applications for next year’s program will be accepted January 1 through March 15, 2021. Awards will be announced on May 15, 2021. Join our email news list to receive notice of the application period opening. You may also download last year’s application for an idea of what you will need. This document will be updated prior to opening the 2021 application period.
Wildflowers and classroom resources for Florida schools are provided through this program. Grants include $50 worth of plants, classroom resources and professional guidance on garden establishment. Grants are awarded in late June; plants are shipped in September in time for the new school year. Teachers who are awarded grants are eligible to receive more wildflowers in the spring if fall gardens are successfully established and cared for.
The 2020 Seedlings for Schools application period is closed. Applications for the next grant round will be accepted beginning in March 2021.
Learn how other teachers used their grants in the 2019 Seedlings for Schools report.
“The garden is amazing! We are totally enjoying the wonderful flowers.” – Volusia Pines Elementary teacher, Lake Helen
Starting your garden
• Planning your school garden
• 20 Easy-to-Grow Wildflowers
• Establishing a small planting of native wildflowers by seed
• Guide for Choosing Native Wildflowers and Plants
• Easy-to-Grow Florida Wildflowers
• Wildflowers for Dry Landscapes
Using your garden
• Linking your garden to curriculum
• Teacher resources
Fun and games
• Wildflower crossword puzzle (Grades 3-5)
• Wildflower maze (Grades K-2)
• Wildflower word search (Grades 3-5)
Wild About Wildflowers! Activity Guide
Our comprehensive activity guide encourages students to learn about Florida’s native wildflowers and their purpose and place in Florida’s unique habitats. These fun, engaging activities will help students achieve a variety of Florida educational standards in math, science and language. When presented from start to finish, the guide gives students a comprehensive introduction to wildflowers, as well as to flowers in general. Activities are correlated to third- and fourth-grade standards but can be adapted to other grade levels. All activities are suitable for informal settings.