Guide for Choosing Native Wildflowers and Plants
Landscaping with Florida’s native wildflowers and plants provides refuge for birds, bees and butterflies while creating “habitat highways” through urban settings.
Need help finding the right natives for your landscape?
Look no further!
Our “Guide for Choosing Native Wildflowers and Plants” includes over 70 Florida native wildflowers, shrubs, vines and grasses that work well in home landscapes and are generally available at nurseries that specialize in native plants.
Use this guide to identify plants that are suitable for your geographic location and soil and light conditions. Increase diversity and attract wildlife by choosing plants with varied bloom colors and bloom seasons, as well as plants that provide nectar and pollen. And don’t forget to add some larval host plants to provide food for caterpillars.
Profiles of the plants included in the guide are included below. Click the buttons below to jump to a specific section.
Wildflowers
Wild columbine
Wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) is one of Florida’s most striking and unique native wildflowers. It occurs naturally in only three counties in the Panhandle and is a state-listed endangered species.
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.
Butterflyweed
Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) is a perennial that produces large, showy clusters of bright orange to reddish flowers from spring through fall. It occurs naturally in sandhills, pine flatwoods, and…
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.
Greeneyes
Florida greeneyes (Berlandiera subacaulis) is an endemic wildflower found in Florida’s sandhills, pine flatwoods, mixed upland forests, and along dry roadsides. Their bright yellow flowers bloom in spring, attracting a…
Bushy seaside oxeye
Bushy seaside oxeye (Borrichia frutescens) blooms year-round, keeping our coastline in color and attracting butterflies and other pollinators. Its seeds provide food for birds and other small wildlife.
Florida paintbrush
Florida paintbrush (Carphephorus corymbosus) blooms from mid-summer into fall, attracting butterflies and other pollinators. It occurs naturally in sandhills, pine flatwoods, scrubby flatwoods, mesic flatwoods and ruderal areas.
Partridge pea
Partridge pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata) is a larval host for several butterflies, including the Gray hairstreak and Cloudless sulphur. The plant is also used by bees, ants, flies, wasps, birds and…
Maryland goldenaster
Maryland goldenaster (Chrysopsis mariana) found in pinelands, sandhills and sandy roadsides. Native butterflies, as well as a variety of native long-tongued bees are attracted to the plant’s nectar.
Purple thistle
Purple thistle (Cirsium horridulum) is a larval host for the Little metalmark and Painted lady butterflies. The seeds are an important food source for seed-eating birds.
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.
Lanceleaf tickseed
Lanceleaf tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolata ) has conspicuously sunny flowers that typically bloom in spring. It attracts butterflies and other pollinators, and its seeds are eaten by birds and small wildlife.
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.
Oblongleaf twinflower
If you are tired of mowing, watering and fertilizing the lawn, consider replacing your turf grass with Oblongleaf twinflower (Dyschoriste oblongifolia), an easy-to-care-for native groundcover.
Purple coneflower
Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) has striking blooms that attract a variety of butterflies, bees and even hummingbirds. Its seeds are eaten by birds and other wildlife.
Tall elephantsfoot
You’d probably expect an elephant-sized flower from a plant called Tall elephantsfoot (Elephantopus elatus), but it’s not the flower that gives this plant its name.
Pineland heliotrope
Don’t forget Pineland heliotrope (Euploca polyphylla) if you’re looking for year-round blooms! This member of the forget-me-not family is a Florida endemic and is adaptable to a variety of conditions…
Narrowleaf yellowtops
Narrowleaf yellowtops (Flaveria linearis) produces many bright yellow flowers that are attractive to a plethora of butterflies, bees and flower beetles.
Coastal mock vervain
Coastal mock vervain (Glandularia maritima) is a state-listed endangered wildflower endemic to Florida’s east coast. It blooms year-round, although the most prolific flowering occurs in spring and summer.
Dune sunflower
Dune sunflower (Helianthus debilis) occurs naturally along the coast. Its bright flowers attract a variety of pollinators, its dense growth pattern provides cover for many small animals and birds enjoy…
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…
Sunshine mimosa
Sunshine mimosa (Mimosa strigillosa) has showy “powderpuff” flowers that bloom spring through summer, attracting mostly bees. The plant is a larval host for the Little sulphur butterfly.
Spotted beebalm
Spotted beebalm (Monarda punctata) is a robust, aromatic wildflower known to attract a huge variety of pollinating insects, including bees, wasps and butterflies. It blooms from early summer through fall.
Manyflower beardtongue
Manyflower beardtongue (Penstemon multiflorus) has many showy white flowers that attract a number of pollinators, including hummingbirds. The plant is a larval host for the Baltimore checkerspot.
Wild blue phlox
Wild blue phlox (Phlox divaricate) is a delicate perennial wildflower. Its beautiful blooms appear from spring into early summer in slope forests, bluffs and calcareous hammocks.
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.
Narrowleaf silkgrass
Narrowleaf silkgrass (Pityopsis graminifolia) blooms late summer through early winter in sandhill, flatwoods and scrub habitats throughout the state. It has brilliant yellow flowers and silvery leaves.
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.
Black-eyed Susan
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) typically blooms in spring through fall. It is pollinated by a variety of insects, and its seeds are eaten by seed-eating birds.
Wild petunia
Wild petunia (Ruellia caroliniensis) typically blooms late spring through late summer/early fall, attracting a variety of pollinators. It is the host plant for the White peacock and Common buckeye butterflies.
Tropical sage
Tropical sage (Salvia coccinea) is a versatile perennial wildflower that no pollinator can resist, but it is particularly attractive to bees, large butterflies and hummingbirds.
Helmet skullcap
Helmet skullcap (Scutellaria integrifolia) typically blooms in late spring and summer, attracting a wide range of bees, including leafcutter, cuckoo and bumble bees.
Starry rosinweed
Starry rosinweed (Silphium asteriscus) is a robust perennial with showy yellow blooms. It occurs naturally in flatwoods, sandy pinelands and disturbed areas and attracts a variety of pollinators.
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.
Woodland pinkroot
Woodland pinkroot (Spigelia marilandica) blooms late spring through summer and sometimes into fall. Its flowers are pollinated by hummingbirds as well as other insects.
Blue porterweed
Blue porterweed (Stachytarpheta jamaicensis) is an excellent addition to a butterfly garden: It is a host plant for the Tropical buckeye and a nectar source for many other butterfly species.
Stokes’ aster
Stokes’ aster (Stokesia laevis) typically blooms in spring and summer, but may bloom throughout the year, attracting a variety of bees, wasps and butterflies.
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.
Spiderwort
Spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis ) flowers attract many pollinators, especially bees. Like all species in the dayflower family, the flowers are ephemeral, meaning they stay open only one day.
Frostweed
Frostweed (Verbesina virginica) typically flowers late summer through fall along moist forest and hammock edges throughout the state. It is attractive to many bees, butterflies and other pollinators.
Giant ironweed
Giant ironweed (Vernonia gigantea) is a robust perennial wildflower that blooms in summer and fall, with peak blooming in July. It attracts many pollinators, particularly butterflies.
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.
Shrubs
Marlberry
Marlberry (Ardisia escallonioides) blooms and fruits intermittently throughout the year. Its abundant fruit is enjoyed by birds and small animals and is also edible to humans.
Hammock snakeroot
Hammock snakeroot ( Ageratina jucunda) is a low-growing shrub found in pine flatwoods, sandhills, hammocks, upland mixed woodlands, and along roadsides and stream banks throughout Florida’s peninsula and Eastern Panhandle…
White wild indigo
White wild indigo (Baptisia alba) has showy white blooms that attract many pollinators. The plant is a larval host plant for the Wild indigo duskywing and Zarucco duskywing butterflies.
American beautyberry
American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) is a woody shrub found in pinelands and hammocks throughout Florida. The plant’s foliage offers cover for small wildlife. Its flowers are a nectar source for…
Buttonbush
Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) is a wetland shrub with pincushion-like blooms that attract bees, butterflies and moths. Ducks and other birds eat the seeds and the foliage is browsed by deer.
Snowberry
Snowberry (Chiococca alba) is a robust evergreen vinelike shrub that occurs naturally in pine rocklands, shell mounds and coastal strands and hammocks. Its fragrant flowers bloom spring through fall.
Cocoplum
Cocoplum (Chrysobalanus icaco) produces flowers and fruits throughout the year. Its dense foliage and substantial fruit provide cover and food for many birds and small wildlife.
False rosemary
False rosemary (Conradina canescens) occurs naturally in sand pine scrub and sandhills. Many pollinator species are attracted to false rosemary, but bees are the most prominent visitor.
Parsley haw
Parsley haw (Crataegus marshallii) is an important source of nectar for a variety of pollinators and is a larval food source for many butterfly and moth species.
Beach creeper
Beach creeper (Ernodea littoralis) is an evergreen low-growing, mat-forming shrub found on dunes, beaches and coastal hammock edges throughout Central and South Florida.
Coralbean
Coralbean (Erythrina herbacea ) is a deciduous to evergreen woody shrub. It produces red tubular flowers that attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
Spanish stopper
Spanish stopper (Eugenia foetida) is an evergreen shrub or small tree with semi-showy flowers that may bloom year-round, but peak in spring and summer.
Florida swampprivet
Florida swampprivet (Forestiera segregata) typically blooms in early spring before leaves emerge, but the plant may bloom year-round. Bees and butterflies love the flowers.
Garberia
Garberia (Garberia heterophylla) is endemic to Florida’s north and central peninsula and is a state-listed threatened species. It is an excellent nectar source for many butterflies and bees.
Firebush
Firebush (Hamelia patens var. patens) is a hardy, fast-growing and showy evergreen shrub to small tree. It produces clusters of bright orange to red tubular flowers that are filled with…
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…
Gallberry
Gallberry (Ilex glabra) is an evergreen shrub to small tree with tiny flowers that attract bees. Its pulpy berries and evergreen foliage provide food and cover for birds.
Yellow anise
Yellow anisetree (Illicium parviflorum) is an evergreen shrub to small tree found in mesic hammocks, bluffs, ravines and seepage swamps. It is endemic to only seven Central Florida counties.
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…
Buttonsage
Buttonsage (Lantana involucrata) occurs naturally along coastal strands, dunes, hammocks, and pinelands in coastal counties from Pinellas and Brevard south to Monroe and into the Keys.
Coastal doghobble
Coastal doghobble (Leucothoe axillaris) has interesting evergreen foliage and showy flowers keep it attractive throughout the year. Its spring flowers are pollinated primarily by bees.
Gopher apple
Gopher apple (Geobalanus oblongifolius) is a hardy, low-growing, woody perennial shrub that occurs naturally in sandhills, pine flatwoods, scrubby flatwoods and scrub. It can bloom year-round.
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.
Shiny lyonia
Shiny lyonia (Lyonia lucida) is an erect woody evergreen shrub that produces a plethora of small, fragrant blooms in whitish-pink to pink to red.
Snow squarestem
Also known as Cat’s tongue, Salt and pepper and Nonpareil, Snow squarestem (Melanthera nivea) typically blooms summer through early winter, but can bloom year-round, attracting bees, butterflies and other pollinators.
Simpson’s stopper
Simpson’s stopper (Myrcianthes fragrans) has year-round blooms that attract a variety of butterflies and bees; its fruit provides food for many bird species.
Wild coffee
Wild coffee (Psychotria nervosa) flowers typically bloom in spring and summer, but may bloom year-round. They are attractive to a variety of pollinators, especially Atala and Schaus’ swallowtail butterflies.
White indigoberry
White indigoberry (Randia aculeata) is an evergreen flowering shrub or small tree found in pine rocklands and coastal strands and hammocks in Central and South Florida.
Sweet pinxter azalea
Sweet pinxter azalea (Rhododendron canescens) has showy pinkish- to rose-colored flowers that bloom in spring. They attract a number of pollinators, including hummingbirds.
Saw palmetto
Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) is an evergreen shrub found in scrub, pinelands, coastal hammocks, and dunes throughout Florida. Dr. Mark Deyrup of Archbold Biological Station calls it the “most amazing…
Walter’s viburnum
Walter’s viburnum (Viburnum obovatum) has showy spring flowers that pollinators love, and produce abundant fruit in summer and fall on which birds and other wildlife feast.
Wild lime
Wild lime (Zanthoxylum fagara) has dense foliage that provides cover, and fruit that provides food for birds and small wildlife. The plant is the larval host for several butterflies.
Vines
Crossvine
Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata) puts on a spectacular spring display of orange tubular flowers. They are mainly pollinated by hummingbirds but attract some butterflies, as well.
Trumpet creeper
Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) is a high-climbing woody vine so named because its showy flowers are trumpet-shaped. They bloom year-round and are very attractive to hummingbirds.
Swamp leather-flower
Swamp leather-flower (Clematis crispa) has distinct nodding flowers that typically bloom in spring and summer, attracting a variety of pollinators. The seeds provide food for many birds and small wildlife.
Carolina jessamine
Carolina jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) is an evergreen vine that creates cascades of brilliant yellow as it grows up into trees and trails off branches.
Beach morning glory
Beach morning glory (Ipomoea imperati) typically blooms in summer and fall. Its striking whit flowers open in the morning and begin to wilt and close up by afternoon.
Skyblue clustervine
Skyblue clustervine (Jacquemontia pentanthos) is an evergreen, twining vine with bright blue flowers that attract a variety of pollinators. It is endangered in Florida.
Coral honeysuckle
Coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) flowers are attractive to many butterflies, and hummingbirds find them irresistible. Birds such as Northern cardinals enjoy the bright red berries.
Purple passionflower
Purple passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) has extraordinarily intricate purple-and-white-fringed flowers. The plant is the larval host plant of several butterflies including the Gulf fritillary and Zebra longwing.
Rubbervine
Rubbervine (Rhabdadenia biflora) is an evergreen flowering vine with white to pinkish-white flowers that bloom spring through fall, but may bloom year-round if temperatures remain warm.
White twinevine
White twinevine (Funastrum clausum) is a larval host plant for Monarch, Queen and Soldier butterflies and an important nectar source for bees and wasps.
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.
Grasses and Grass-like Plants
Wiregrass
Wiregrass (Aristida stricta) is a perennial bunchgrass found in scrub, pinelands and coastal uplands throughout much of Florida. It is is a primary food source for gopher tortoises.
Elliott’s lovegrass
Elliott’s lovegrass (Eragrostis elliottii) has tiny yet prolific seeds that provide plenty of food for invertebrates and small birds that also use the plant’s dense foliage for cover.
Button rattlesnakemaster
Button rattlesnakemaster (Eryngium yuccifolium ) is a peculiar perennial wildflower that occurs in flatwoods, sandhills, savannas and marshes throughout Florida. It blooms in late spring through fall.
Muhlygrass
Nothing says fall in Florida like the purple haze of Muhlygrass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) in bloom. When planted en masse, this perennial bunchgrass puts on a spectacular fall display.
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.
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.
Lopsided Indiangrass
Lopsided indiangrass (Sorghastrum secundum) is a robust and unique perennial bunchgrass. Throughout most of the year, it is rather indistinct. But in late summer, it produces tall, dramatic flower spikes…
Sea oats
There is nothing more iconic to the Florida summer coastal scene than Sea oats (Uniola paniculata) swaying to the sea breeze in the dunes. The flowers of this tall and…
Adam’s needle
Adam’s needle (Yucca filamentosa) is a low-growing evergreen shrub found in scrub, sandhills, flatwoods and coastal dunes throughout much of Florida. As a landscape plant, it provides interest with its…