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Help paint Florida with wildflowers
The State Wildflower license plate helps teach residents to create sustainable landscapes that showcase Florida’s first flowers. Get yours today.
Image from Nancy Bickner's garden in Largo Florida. -
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Get the facts on growing native wildflowers
Our many resources will help you select the right plant for the right place.
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Wildflowers, naturally!
Are you landscaping with Florida native wildflowers? Have your efforts recognized in our "Wildflowers, naturally!" recognition program.
Start with 20 Easy Wildflowers
Learn to grow and maintain 10 foolproof Florida wildflowers, including Blanketflower, Black-eyed Susan, Blazing star, Beebalm and Sunflowers. Follow that up with 10 additional Florida wildflowers for attracting butterflies and bees. Download 10 Easy Wildflowers (24-page PDF) and 10 Easy Wildflowers for Butterflies and Bees (24-pg PDF) or view them as inserts in the Guide for Real Florida Gardeners.
Get your copy of the Guide.
Become a member and we’ll send you the most recent Guide for Real Florida Gardeners.
“The results of landscaping with native wildflowers are amazing. So many beautiful plants, lots of butterflies, caterpillars and other critters!”
Starting a Florida wildflower garden?
Plan for success
- Choose plants correct for your site’s conditions and climate zone.
- For sunny gardens, choose a site that gets four or more hours of sun.
- For shade gardens, select a site with light daily or afternoon shade.
- Select plants that bloom in different seasons.
- Use native grasses or groundcovers to fill space and add interest.
- Remove weeds and debris seasonally.
- Let seeds dry and set naturally to produce new plants.
Learn to grow Florida’s native wildflowers
Watch this video and you’ll know how the Sunshine State got its name, when to plant wildflowers from seed, and how to prepare a site for planting.
Native Florida Wildflowers (Part 1)
All about Florida wildflowers and how to establish a bed (Part 1).
Native Florida Wildflowers (Part 2)
All about Florida wildflowers and how to establish a bed (Part 2).
Protecting Florida Wildflowers
Wildflowers in Florida’s natural areas.
Landscaping with Wildflowers
Great native plants for your landscape.
Get the facts on growing native wildflowers
Adding wildflowers to your landscape is easy – just select the right plant for the right place. On this page, you’ll find information that will help you be a blooming success.
48%
NITRATES & PHOSPHORUS
in surface waters are generated by fertilizer
93%
OF FLORIDIANS DEPEND
on the Floridan aquifer for their water
3,800
NATIVE AND NATURALIZED
flowering plant species in Florida
Resources for sustainable landscaping for homeowners
- Natives for Your Neighborhood – Choose the right plants for your ecoregion with the help of this tool, which features recommendations for South and Southwest Florida.
- Designing Our Future: Sustainable Landscapes (American Society of Landscape Architects) – How homeowners and communities can connect their properties into networks of attractive, wildlife-friendly neighborhoods, cities, and regions.
- Find your local Florida Yards and Neighborhoods Program (FYN Homeowner Program) – Click your county on the map or select your county from the dropdown menu to view website and contact information.
- 9 Principles of Florida-Friendly Landscaping (FFL) (FYN Homeowner Program)
– How to have a low-maintenance, attractive and sustainable landscape. - Florida Yards and Neighborhoods Handbook, 2015 (PDF) (FYN Homeowner Program) – detailed information on the nine Principles of FFL.
- FFL Guide to Plant Selection & Landscape Design (PDF) (FYN Homeowner Program) – Landscape design strategies, a planning worksheet, and the FFL Plant List. Companion to the FYN Handbook.
- Steps to Converting a Traditional Development Landscape to a Florida-Friendly Landscape (University of Florida IFAS Extension) – A three-phase/seven-step process to planning and planting your Florida-Friendly Landscape.
- Florida-Friendly Landscaping (Southwest Florida Water Management District) –
Videos, advice and workshops. - Homeowners/Community Associations (Southwest Florida Water Management District) – Contacts and resources for associations and boards.
- Waterwise landscaping website (St. John’s Water Management District) –
Searchable database, landscaping examples and plant groupings. - Know your irrigation contractor (Florida Irrigation Society) –
What to expect from an irrigation contractor.
Sustainable landscaping for Landscape Architects and Maintenance Professionals
- Sustainable Site Initiative – A comprehensive rating system to measure the performance of sustainable landscapes and elevate their value.
- Summary of Florida Green Industries Best Management Practices for Protection of Water Resources in Florida – A booklet to enhance professional knowledge of turf and landscape managers.
- Green Industry-BMP Training & Program Overview – A science-based educational program for lawn care and landscape maintenance professionals.
- Low Impact Development – A type of smart growth that simultaneously conserves green space and manages stormwater effectively.
- Florida-Friendly Landscaping – Professional’s Corner – Stories from landscape companies, builders and developers who are embracing low-impact landscaping.
- The Florida Water Star program – A voluntary certification program that encourages water efficiency in irrigation systems and landscapes.
- International Sustainability Council Audubon Landscape Program (Audubon) – Provides direction, technical assistance, public attention, and national recognition for landscapes that incorporate conservation techniques.
- Sustainable Landscaping (American Society of Landscape Architects) – Browse design case studies, then access animations and resources on sustainable design.
- Florida Irrigation Society – Promotes sound irrigation practices.
- Invasive Plant Management Plans (UF Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants) – Plant management plans by species, common name or scientific name.
Go to the source for native plant material.
Finding the right plant for the right place
- Plant Real Florida – Learn about native plants appropriate for your region.
- Florida Association of Native Nurseries – Locate wholesale and retail sources of Florida native plants.
- Florida Wildflower and Plant Growers Association – Purchase Florida wildflower seeds and plants.
- Florida Native Plant Society – Build a list of appropriate native plants for your landscape.
- Natives for Your Neighborhood – Learn about species for your South Florida location.
- Florida-Friendly Plant Database – Learn about low-maintenance plants for Florida yards.
- Florida Trees for Urban and Suburban Sites – Select trees using its database.
Wildflowers, Naturally!
The Wildflowers, Naturally! program recognizes gardens throughout the state that have areas dedicated to native wildflowers, flowering shrubs and trees. Celebrate real Florida by applying for recognition today (free for FWF members).
Criteria
Your landscape should:
- Contain seasonal-blooming native species from trusted sources.
- Provide food, water and shelter for wildlife.
- Have no more than 25 percent of non-native plants.
- Have no invasive exotic species.
- Contain region-appropriate species.
- Be identifiable and distinct as a wildflower landscape.
- Cover at least 100 square feet.
