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Native Plants that Attract Wildlife: Central Florida1
Craig N. Huegel2Gardening for wildlife is rapidly increasing in popularity. Home landscapes can help offset the habitat loss that occurs in urban areas. This allows a greater variety of wildlife to live near us.
Plants are the key to attracting wildlife to your property. Your plant choices and your landscape design both will determine what animals you will attract. A yard landscaped with wildlife in mind need not appear "wild." A more traditional landscape design also can have great benefits.
There are several considerations to make in gardening for wildlife. A very important one is your choice of plants. In most cases, wildlife do best in landscapes with plants native to the region in which they live. These plants often are better at providing the food and cover that is required. When used in the proper location, native plants also require less attention and water.
There are a great many native trees and shrubs to choose from in Florida. Every plant has some value to wildlife, but some are better than others. Tables 1, 2 and 3 list native Florida trees and shrubs that provide both food and cover. Not all of these are native to central Florida, but all of them can be grown here. Also, many of these are not available from a wide variety of commercial sources at this time.
This list is intended to be as thorough as possible, but it is not complete. Information for wildlife with specific requirements such as hummingbirds (Florida's Hummingbirds, SS-WIS-21 ) and butterflies (Butterfly Gardening in Florida, SS-WIS-22 ) is available from a variety of other sources.
Plants listed as "tall trees" (greater than 30 feet at maturity) often are used best as a canopy (Table 1 ). These trees also produce shade. The "small trees" (30 feet or less) can be used below the canopy when they are shade-tolerant or as a low canopy in areas where large trees are not desired or appropriate (Table 2 ). Shrubs are used best near trees. Shrubs (Table 3 ) here are defined as woody plants that have a bushy form. Shade-tolerant shrubs can be planted directly beneath the canopy. Others can be planted at the edge of the shade zone so that they receive ample sunlight.
Some plants produce either male or female flowers. These are known as dioecious. Other plants produce both male and female flowers. These are called monoecious. Monoecious plants can set fruit by themselves. For dioecious plants, you need to have both sexes nearby and only the female plants produce fruit. Because fruit production is important to a wildlife landscape, be aware of this when you make your plant choices. Consider the size of the fruit because large fruit may be difficult for small wildlife to use. Also be aware of the season when the fruit ripens and try to have food available throughout the year.
The best wildlife landscapes require a minimum amount of care. Frequent watering, fertilizing, spraying and pruning disturbs animals and limits their use of the area. Use plants that are adapted to existing growing conditions.
It also is important that your landscape be attractive to you. The column for aesthetics lists some characteristics of the plants that may be of interest to people. Balance your desires with the needs of the wildlife you wish to attract.
For more information on wildlife gardening contact the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission (620 S. Meridian St., Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600) for a copy of Planting a Refuge for Wildlife or your local County Cooperative Extension Service office.
The following is a key to the headings used in the tables:
The following is a key to the footnotes used in the tables:
- Common name: The name most commonly used; others used in parentheses
- Scientific name: The botanical name most commonly used; others used in parentheses
- Hgt: Average height in feet of mature plant; plants may grow taller after many years under ideal conditions
- Leaf type: (D) Deciduous, (S) Semi-deciduous, (E) Evergreen
- Sex: (D) Dioecious - male and female flowers on separate trees, (M) Monoecious - male and female flowers on same tree
- Moisture: Preferred soil moisture for best growth
- Light: (S) Full sun, (P) Partial sun, (Sh) Shade
- pH: Soil pH preferred: (Av) Wide pH tolerance, (Ac) Acid, (Al) Alkaline
- Salt: Degree of salt tolerance: (H) High, (M) Medium, (N) Low to none, (U) Unknown
- Wildlife use: Major uses for wildlife
- Aesthetics: Aesthetic considerations
- *Indicates plants that will suffer damage from severe or prolonged freezing temperatures.
- **Oaks are classified as either black (B) or white (W). White oak acorns often are sweeter and more preferred by wildlife than black oak acorns.
Tables
Table 1.
Table 1. Native Tall Trees for Central Florida Common Name Scientific Name Hgt Leaf Type Moisture pH Salt Florida maple Acer saccharum floridanum(Acer barbatum) 50 D Moist Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Seeds used mostly by squirrels Native Plant Aesthetics: Good fall color, stately shade tree Boxelder Acer negundo 60 D Moist Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Seeds used mostly by squirrels Native Plant Aesthetics: Fairly short-lived, weak wood Red maple Acer rubrum 80 D Moist Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Seeds used mostly by squirrels Native Plant Aesthetics: Very good fall color, red flowers and fruits in spring Water hickory Carya aquatics 90 D Moist Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Nuts are important wildlife food Native Plant Aesthetics: Nuts bitter, narrow leaves and crown Scrub hickory Carya floridana 30 D Dry Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Nuts are important wildlife food Native Plant Aesthetics: Nuts edible, tree often multi-trunked and crooked Pignut hickory Carya glabra 70 D Avg Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Nuts are important wildlife food Native Plant Aesthetics: Good fall color, nuts bitter, good shade tree Mockernut hickory Carya tomentosa 60 D Avg Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Nuts are important wildlife food Native Plant Aesthetics: Nuts edible, good shade tree Sugarberry Celtis laevigata 80 D Moist Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Fruits used by many birds Native Plant Aesthetics: Excellent shade tree Flowering dogwood Cornus florida 40 D Moist-Avg Ac-Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Fruits used by many birds Native Plant Aesthetics: Very showy white flower bracts Persimmon Diospyros virginiana 60 D Avg Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Fruit attractive to opossums and other mammals Native Plant Aesthetics: Edible fruit, attractive flowers Willow bustic* Dipholis salicifolia 40 E Avg Av U Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Small purple fruits used by some birds Native Plant Aesthetics: Young branches rusty hairy White ash Fraxinus americana 80 D Moist Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Seeds used by many birds, good seed set only every 2-3 years Native Plant Aesthetics: Important timber and shade tree Green ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica 65 D Moist Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Seeds used by many birds, good seed set annually Native Plant Aesthetics: Important limber and shade tree Pumpkin ash Fraxinus profunda 90 D Wet Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Seeds used by many birds Native Plant Aesthetics: Good shade tree for low moist areas Water locust Gleditsia aquatica 60 D Wet Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Seeds eaten by mammals and quail, excellent nesting cover Native Plant Aesthetics: Very thorny, "beans" can be messy after they fall Dahoon holly Ilex cassine 40 E Moist Av M Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Berries excellent food for many wildlife Native Plant Aesthetics: Masses of red berries on female trees American holly Ilex opaca 40 E Avg Av M Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Berries excellent food for many wildlife Native Plant Aesthetics: Bright red berries and shiny foliage, many cultivars offered Southern red cedar Juniperus silicicola 50 E Avg Av-Al H Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Small fruits used by birds, excellent nesting cover Native Plant Aesthetics: Very adaptable long-lived tree Sweet gum Liquidambar styraciflua 50 D Avg Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Seeds of limited use to some birds and mammals Native Plant Aesthetics: Good fall color, spiny seed balls Southern magnolia Magnolia grandiflora 80 E Avg Av M Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Red seeds used by variety of wildlife Native Plant Aesthetics: Large aromatic white flowers Sweet bay Magnolia virginiana 60 E Moist Ac-Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Small red seeds used by variety of wildlife Native Plant Aesthetics: Small aromatic white flowers, tree less stately than above Red mulberry Morus rubra 50 D Avg Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Fruits highly prized by variety of wildlife Native Plant Aesthetics: Fruits edible, very "messy" tree as fruits stain property Water tupelo Nyssa aquatica 80 D Wet Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Dark purple fruit used by many birds and mammals, bee tree Native Plant Aesthetics: Good fall color Ogeechee lime Nyssa ogeche 30 D Wet Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: 1.5" bright red fruit used by large birds and mammals Native Plant Aesthetics: Best grown in permanently wet sites Black gum (Tupelo) Nyssa sylvatica biflora 70 D Moist Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Blue fruit eaten by many birds and mammals, bee tree Native Plant Aesthetics: Brilliant fall color Wild olive Osmanthus americana 45 E Avg Ac-Av M Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Fruits of limited use by birds/mammals Native Plant Aesthetics: Very fragrant small flowers Red bay Persea borbonia 65 E Moist Av M Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Purple fruit eaten by birds and squirrels Native Plant Aesthetics: Aromatic leaves can be used to season food Silk bay Persea humilis 30 E Dry Av M Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Purple fruit eaten by birds and squirrels Native Plant Aesthetics: Lower surface of aromatic leaves with copper colored hairs Swamp bay Persea paiustris 40 E Moist Av M Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Purple fruit eaten by birds and squirrels Native Plant Aesthetics: Aromatic leaves and leaf stalks hairy Sand pine Pinus clausa 70 E Dry Av M Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Seeds eaten by variety of wildlife Native Plant Aesthetics: Short-needled pine easily damaged by overwatering, often used as Christmas tree Slash pine Pinus elliottii 90 E Moist Av M Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Seeds eaten by variety of wildlife Native Plant Aesthetics: Use south Florida variety (P. e. densa) for best results Spruce pine Pinus glabra 90 E Moist Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Seeds used by variety of wildlife Native Plant Aesthetics: A "soft" needled pine for moist areas Longleaf pine Pinus palustris 90 E Avg Ac-Av M Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Seeds eaten by variety of wildlife Native Plant Aesthetics: Stately, long-lived tree, with good disease resistance Pond pine Pinus serotina 60 E Wet Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Seeds used by variety of wildlife Native Plant Aesthetics: Adapted to high and fluctuating water tables, irregular canopy Loblolly pine Pinus taeda 90 E Avg Av M Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Large seed crops used by variety of wildlife Native Plant Aesthetics: Fast-growing, long-needled pine but susceptible to insect and disease damage Planer elm Planera aquatica 40 D Wet Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Seeds used by many wildlife Native Plant Aesthetics: Excellent tree for areas that frequently flood Cherry laurel Prunus caroliniana 40 D Avg Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Fruit used by many wildlife species Native Plant Aesthetics: Attractive flowers, may be pruned and used as a hedge Black cherry Prunus serotina 80 D Avg Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Very important food source, foliage poisonous to livestock Native Plant Aesthetics: Attractive flowers and good fall color Bluff oak (W)** Quercus austrina 80 D Avg Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Acorns .5" Native Plant Aesthetics: Southern version of the white oak, leaves with elongate rounded lobes Southern red oak (B) Quercus faicata 50 D Avg Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Acorns .5" Native Plant Aesthetics: Broad crowned, leaves with pointed lobes Cherrybark oak (B) Quercus faicata pagodifolia 80 D Moist Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Acorns .5" Native Plant Aesthetics: A large attractive oak that survives periodic flooding Turkey oak (B) Quercus laevis 50 D Dry Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Acorns 1" Native Plant Aesthetics: Thrives in very poor soils, leaves with deep pointed lobes Laurel oak (B) Quercus laurifolia 80 s Avg Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Acorns .5", abundant Native Plant Aesthetics: Commonly used landscape tree, straight trunk with rounded crown Overcup oak (W) Quercus lyrata 80 D Wet Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Large acorns (1"), heavy production only every 3-4 years Native Plant Aesthetics: Broad crowned tree, leaves long and narrow with irregular rounded lobes Swamp chestnut oak (W) Quercus michauxii 90 D Moist Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Acorns 1-1.5" Native Plant Aesthetics: Leaves with numerous shallow rounded lobes Water oak (B) Quercus nigra 80 D Moist Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Acorns .5" Native Plant Aesthetics: Attractive light bark, leaves spatula shaped Shumard oak (B) Quercus shumardii 70 D Avg Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Acorns .5-1" Native Plant Aesthetics: Broad, rounded crown, leaves with many deeply pointed lobes Post oak (W) Quercus stellata 65 D Avg Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Acorns .5-1", good production only every 2-4 years Native Plant Aesthetics: Leaves 5-lobed, crucifix shaped Live oak (W) Quercus virginiana 45 E Avg Av M Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Abundant acorns 1" Native Plant Aesthetics: Very broad crowned, long-lived shade tree Cabbage palm Sabal palmetto 70 E Avg Av H Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Fruits important to many wildlife Native Plant Aesthetics: Florida state tree, very adaptable Pond cypress Taxodium ascendens 100 D Wet Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Small seeds used by some birds and squirrels Native Plant Aesthetics: Small leaves closely pressed against stems Bald cypress Taxodium distichum 100 D Wet Ac-Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Small seeds used by some birds and squirrels Native Plant Aesthetics: Leaves spread away from stems, giving "leathery" appearance Florida trema Trema micrantha 60 E Avg Al u Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Small fruit used by some birds Native Plant Aesthetics: Short-lived "weedy" tree Winged elm Ulmus alata 50 D Avg Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Seeds of minor use Native Plant Aesthetics: Corky "wings" on branches, open rounded crown Florida elm Ulmus americana floridana 70 D Avg Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Seeds of minor use Native Plant Aesthetics: Excellent shade tree, graceful spreading form Cedar elm Ulmus crassifolia 50 D Moist Av-Al N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Seeds of minor use Native Plant Aesthetics: Branches often with corky "wings" *Indicates plants that will suffer damage from severe or prolonged freezing temperatures. **Oaks are classified as either black (B) or white (W). White oak acorns often are sweeter and more preferred by wildlife than black oak acorns.
Table 2. Native Small Trees for Central Florida Common Name Scientific Name Hgt Leaf Type Sex Moisture pH Salt Sweet acacia Acacia farnesiana 20 S M Avg Av M Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Seeds inside "beans" used by large birds, nesting cover Native Plant Aesthetics: Bright yellow fragrant flower heads, used in perfume Red buckeye Aesculus pavia 20 D M Avg Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Buckeyes eaten by squirrels, flowers attract hummingbirds Native Plant Aesthetics: Red tubular flowers in spring, needs some shade Downy serviceberry Amelanchier arborea(Amelanchier canadensis) 30 D M Avg Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Berries highly prized by most wildlife Native Plant Aesthetics: Berries edible, bell-like white flowers in spring Pond apple* Annona glabra 30 E M Wet Av M Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Large yellow "apples" mostly used by mammals Native Plant Aesthetics: 1" cream white to pale yellow flowers, leaves aromatic Devil's walking stick Aralia spinosa 15 D M Moist Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Many purplish berries widely used by wildlife Native Plant Aesthetics: Leaf stems with spines, fast grower, may spread by suckers Saffron plum* Bumelia celastrina 15 E M Avg-Dry Av H Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Sweet black fruits used by birds, good nesting tree Native Plant Aesthetics: Thorny, fruits edible Gum bumelia Bumelia lanuginosa 20 D M Avg Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Small black fruits used by some birds, good nesting tree Native Plant Aesthetics: Leaf undersides dense wooly Buckthorn bumelia Bumelia lycioides 20 D M Moist Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Small black fruits used by some birds Native Plant Aesthetics: Leaves without hairs, no thorns Tough bumelia Bumelia tenax 20 E M Dry Av M Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Small black fruits used by some birds, tree forms are good nesting cover Native Plant Aesthetics: Thorny branches, often shrubby, leaf undersides with dense copper hairs Blue hornbeam (ironwood) Carpinus caroliniana 30 D M Ave Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Seeds and catkins used by birds and squirrels Native Plant Aesthetics: Excellent understory tree, trunk "muscled" in appearance Ashe chinkapin Castanea pumila 20 D M Avg Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Small chestnuts eaten by wide variety of wildlife Native Plant Aesthetics: Sweet nuts similar to American chestnut Redbud Cercis canadensis 30 D M Avg Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Beans provide seeds for some birds Native Plant Aesthetics: Very showy pink-red flowers in spring Pygmy fringe tree Chionanthus pygmaeus 6 D D Dry Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Purple fruits used by birds Native Plant Aesthetics: Profuse clusters of fragrant white flowers in spring, small and multitrunked Fringe tree Chionanthus virginicus 30 D D Avg Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Purple fruits used by birds Native Plant Aesthetics: Profuse clusters of fragrant white flowers in spring, multitrunked Swamp dogwood Cornus foemina 20 D M Wet Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Blue berries used by wide variety of birds Native Plant Aesthetics: Flat-topped clusters of small white flowers in spring May haw Crataegus aestivalis 20 D M Moist-Avg Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Medium-sized pale-orange "haws" eaten by variety of wildlife, good nesting cover Native Plant Aesthetics: Small apple-like flowers in clusters, fruit makes fine-flavored jelly Cockspur haw Crataegus crus-galli(Crataegus pyracanthoides) 25 D M Avg Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Small green-dull red fruit eaten by variety of wildlife, good nesting cover Native Plant Aesthetics: Long thorns, small white flowers in clusters Summer haw Crataegus flava 25 D M Dry Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Orange-red "haws" eaten by variety of birds and mammals, good nesting cover Native Plant Aesthetics: Thorns, twisted weeping branches, medium-sized flowers in small clusters Parsley haw Crataegus marshallii 20 D M Moist Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Small scarlet "haws" eaten by variety of wildlife, good nesting cover Native Plant Aesthetics: Finely cut leaves (similar to parsley) very attractive, small flowers in large clusters Littlehip haw Crataegus spathulata 25 D M Avg Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Small red "haws" eaten by variety of wildlife, good nesting cover Native Plant Aesthetics: Long thorns, small flowers in clusters One-flowered haw Crataegus uniflora 12 D M Avg Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Small yellowish-green "haws", good nesting cover Native Plant Aesthetics: Numerous long thorns, small flowers usually not in clusters Green haw Crataegus viridis 30 D M Moist Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Small orange-red "haws" eaten by variety of wildlife, good nesting cover Native Plant Aesthetics: Largest of native hawthorns, branches largely spineless, small flowers in clusters Inkwood* Exothea paniculata 30 E D Avg Av M Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Small purple fruits used by birds Native Plant Aesthetics: Reddish flaky bark Pop ash Fraxinus caroliniana 30 D D Wet Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Seeds eaten by some birds and mammals Native Plant Aesthetics: Will tolerate shallow water for months Carolina silverbell Halesia caroliniana 30 D M Avg Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Winged seeds used by some wildlife Native Plant Aesthetics: Very showy white bell-shaped flowers in spring Two-winged silverbell Halesia diptera 25 D M Avg Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Winged seeds used by some wildlife Native Plant Aesthetics: Very showy white bell-shaped flowers in spring Little silverbell Halesia parviflora 20 D M Avg Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Winged seeds used by some wildlife Native Plant Aesthetics: Very showy white bell-shaped flowers in spring Carolina holly Ilex ambigua 20 D D Avg-Dry Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Abundant red fruit in early fall widely used by wildlife Native Plant Aesthetics: Abundant red fruit very colorful in landscape Large gallberry Ilex coriacea 20 E D Wet Ac-Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Nonpersistent purple fruit used late fall and early winter Native Plant Aesthetics: Dark fruit & shrubby appearance less eye-catching than most Possumhaw holly Ilex decidua 30 D D moist Ac-Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Orange-red fruit widely used late fall and winter Native Plant Aesthetics: Persistent fruit adds winter color on leafless branches Gallberry Ilex glabra 6 E D Moist Ac-Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Nonpersistent black fruit used in late fall and winter Native Plant Aesthetics: An open "bushy" tree, may produce runners Tawnyberry* Ilex krugiana 30 E D Avg Av U Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Black fruit mature in summer Native Plant Aesthetics: Unique long-pointed leaf tips and fruit color Myrtle holly Ilex myrtifolia 25 E D Moist Ac-Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Red fruit widely used in late fall Native Plant Aesthetics: Similar to dahoon, but smaller leaves, winter color Scrub holly Ilex opaca arenicola 15 E D Dry Av M Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Red fruit, but good fruit production variable Native Plant Aesthetics: Very similar to American holly with spiny leaves, attractive, but slow grower, very susceptible to root rot in all but well-drained soils Winterberry Ilex verticillata 25 D D Wet Ac N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Very persistent red fruit widely used in winter Native Plant Aesthetics: Fruit color and foliage nice, used in holiday decorations Yaupon Ilex vomitoria 25 E D Avg Av M Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Red fruit widely used late fall and winter Native Plant Aesthetics: Very adaptable, tolerant of pruning, good color Simpson stopper Myrcianthes fragrans 25 E M Avg Av M Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Red berries used by many birds Native Plant Aesthetics: Small white fragrant flowers in spring, reddish flaky bark Lancewood Nectandra conacea 30 E M Avg Av M Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Dark blue fruit used by some wildlife Native Plant Aesthetics: Small fragrant flower clusters in late spring Scrub olive Osmanthus megacarpa 15 E D Dry Av M Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Large "olives" marginally used by some birds and mammals Native Plant Aesthetics: Small fragrant flowers, large evergreen leaves Eastern hophornbeam Ostrya virginiana 25 D M Avg Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Nutlets used by some birds and mammals Native Plant Aesthetics: Fruiting structure looks similar to hops, light flaky bark American plum Prunus americana 30 D M Avg Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Medium-sized plums mostly used by mammals Native Plant Aesthetics: Showy white flowers in spring, plums used for jelly Chickasaw plum Prunus angustifolia 20 D M Avg Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Reddish plums (.5" diameter) widely used by wildlife Native Plant Aesthetics: Showy white flowers in spring, red sour plums used in cooking Flatwoods plum Prunus umbellata 20 D M Avg Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Purple plums (.5") widely used by wildlife Native Plant Aesthetics: Showy small white flowers in spring, purple plums edible, used in jelly Chapman oak (W) Quercus chapmanii 20 S M Dry Av M Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Acorns (.5-1") Native Plant Aesthetics: Broad crown, lobed leaves Sand live oak (W) Quercus geminata 30 E M Dry Av H Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Acorns (.5-1") Native Plant Aesthetics: Smaller than live oak with very narrow leaves Bluejack oak (B) Quercus incana 30 D M Dry Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Acorns (.5") Native Plant Aesthetics: Rounded crown, leaves with bluish cast Inopina oak (B) Quercus inopina 8 E M Dry Av U Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Acorns (.5") Native Plant Aesthetics: Shrubby tree with round leaves often held vertical to ground Myrtle oak (B) Quercus myrtifolia 25 E M Dry Av M Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Acorns (.3") Native Plant Aesthetics: A bushy tree with round leaves and dense foliage Sand post oak (W) Quercus stellata margaretta 30 D M Dry Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Acorns (.5") Native Plant Aesthetics: Nearly identical to post oak, with leaves less lobed Carolina buckthorn Rhamnus caroliniana 30 D M Moist-Avg Av-Al N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Numerous black berries used by many birds Native Plant Aesthetics: Berries once used as source of yellow dye, flower clusters attractive Sassafras Sassafras albidum 30 D D Avg Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Fruit (sets poorly in south 1/2 of FL) used by birds Native Plant Aesthetics: Small fragrant flowers, aromatic leaves and bark used in tea Sparkleberry Vaccinium arboreum 20 E M Avg Ac N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Blueberries eaten by wide variety of birds Native Plant Aesthetics: Berries very bitter, attractive bell-like flowers in spring Hercules club Zanthoxylum clava-herculis 30 D D Avg Av M Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Seeds used by some birds, good nesting cover for some birds Native Plant Aesthetics: Trunk and main branches thorny, leaves very aromatic *Indicates plants that will suffer damage from severe or prolonged freezing temperatures. **Oaks are classified as either black (B) or white (W). White oak acorns often are sweeter and more preferred by wildlife than black oak acorns.
Table 3. Native Shrubs for Central Florida Common Name Scientific Name Hgt Leaf Type Sex Moisture Light pH Salt Marlberry (Marbleberry)* Ardisia escallonioides 8 E M Avg S-Sh Av M Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Round purple fruits produced mostly fall-winter, widely used by wildlife Native Plant Aesthetics: Large clusters of fragrant white flowers, white trunk Slender buckthorn Bumelia reclinata 25 E M Dry S Av H Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Small black fruits used by some birds Native Plant Aesthetics: Thorns Beautyberry Callicarpa americana 6 D M Avg P Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Small purplish fruits used by some birds in late winter Native Plant Aesthetics: Clusters of berries around stems very attractive Iguana hackberry* Celtis iguanaea 8 E M Avg S Av-Al H Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Medium-sized orange fruits used by many wildlife species Native Plant Aesthetics: Spiny twisted branches, edible fruit Spiny hackberry* Celtis pallida 8 E M Avg S Av-Al H Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Medium-sized orange fruits used by many wildlife species Native Plant Aesthetics: Spiny twisted branches, edible fruit Snowberry Chiococca alba 10 E M Avg P Av M Wildlife Use of Native Plants: White berries produced year-round, used by many wildlife Native Plant Aesthetics: Flowers green-white to yellow, white stems with dark leaves Cocoplum* Chrysobalanus icaco 6 E M Avg S Av H Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Purple "plums" used by mammals and large birds Native Plant Aesthetics: Two color forms (green and red lipped), edible fruit Seagrape* Coccoloba uvifera 10 E M Avg S Av H Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Purple "grapes" used by mammals and large birds Native Plant Aesthetics: Large attractive leaves, edible fruit Scrub haw Crataegus lepida 8 D M Dry S Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Red "haws" eaten by variety of wildlife, nesting cover Native Plant Aesthetics: White flowers, weeping thorny branches White stopper* Eugenia axillaris 25 E M Avg S-P Av M Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Blue-black fruits in winter used by many birds Native Plant Aesthetics: Fruits edible, leaves emit unpleasant odor when crushed Spanish (Boxleaf) stopper* Eugenia foetida 15 E M Avg S-P Al M Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Small black fruits used by many birds Native Plant Aesthetics: Reddish scaly bark, leaves emit unpleasant odor Hearts a bustin' Euonymus americanus 6 E M Avg P Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Red seeds used by some wildlife, foliage often browsed Native Plant Aesthetics: Orange-red seed capsules with bright red seeds in fall Swamp privet Forestiera acuminata 30 D D Moist S-P Av U Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Lavender wrinkled fruit used by some wildlife Native Plant Aesthetics: Weak leaning shrub, may sprout where branches contact soil Flatwoods privet Forestiera ligustrina 10 D D Avg S-P Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Small purple fruit used by many birds Native Plant Aesthetics: Similar to Florida privet, but deciduous Pineland privet* Forestiera pinetorium 10 E D Avg S Av M Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Abundant small purple fruits used by many birds Native Plant Aesthetics: Low-growing relative of Florida privet Florida privet Forestiera segregate 10 s D Avg S-P Av-Al M Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Abundant small purple fruits used by many birds, good nesting cover Native Plant Aesthetics: Very dense dark-green foliage Blolly* Guapira discolor 25 E M Avg S-P Al M Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Red fruit used by birds Native Plant Aesthetics: Shiny green foliage, bright red fruit Sarvis holly Ilex amelanchier 15 D D Avg S-P Ac-Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Dull-red berries used by many birds in late fall and winter Native Plant Aesthetics: Large shrub with open rounded crown Pond spice Litsea aestivalis 9 D M Wet S-P Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Bright red fruits used by many wildlife species Native Plant Aesthetics: Attractive yellow spring flowers, colorful fruit Christmas berry Lycium carolinianum 6 E M Avg S Av H Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Red egg-shaped berries produced year-round, widely used by wildlife Native Plant Aesthetics: Bluish flowers, succulent leaves on thorny stems Wax myrtle Myrica cerifera 20 E D Avg S-P Av H Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Small waxy berries used by many birds, good nesting cover Native Plant Aesthetics: Extremely adaptable, may be used as a hedge, aromatic leaves Evergreen bayberry Myrica heterophylia 15 E D Wet S-P Av M Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Small waxy berries used by many birds, good nesting cover Native Plant Aesthetics: Branches nearly black, leathery aromatic evergreen leaves Odorless bayberry Myrica inodora 20 E D Wet S-P Av M Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Small waxy berries used by many birds, good nesting cover Native Plant Aesthetics: Bark almost white, leaves odorless Dwarf wax myrtle Myrica pumila 3 E D Avg S-P Av H Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Small waxy berries used by many birds Native Plant Aesthetics: A small version of common wax myrtle Scrub plum Prunus geniculata 6 D M Dry S Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Small sweet plums prized by wildlife Native Plant Aesthetics: White flowers, thorny zigzag branches Wild coffee* Psychotria nervosa 2 E M Avg P-Sh Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Red fruits used by many wildlife species Native Plant Aesthetics: Dark shiny leaves and bright red fruit Dwarf oak (B)** Quercus minima 2 D M Avg S-P Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Acorns widely used by wildlife Native Plant Aesthetics: Good groundcover for sunny areas Running oak (B) Quercus pumila 3 D M Avg S-P Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Acorns widely used by wildlife Native Plant Aesthetics: Good groundcover for sunny areas White indigo berry* Randia aculeata 6 E M Avg S Av M Wildlife Use of Native Plants: White-skinned fruits used by some birds Native Plant Aesthetics: Spines, attractive form but messy fruit Myrsine Rapanea punctata 10 E D Avg P-Sh Av M Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Small black fruits along stem in winter used by some birds Native Plant Aesthetics: Bright green leathery leaves Needle palm Rhaphidophyllum hystrix 6 E M Avg P-Sh Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Yellowish fruits used by mammals and,large birds Native Plant Aesthetics: Trunks covered with needle-like spines Winged sumac Rhus copallina 10 D M Avg S Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Red fruits used by some birds during winter Native Plant Aesthetics: Good red fall color Sand blackberry Rubus cuneifolius 4 E M Avg S Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Berries greatly prized by wildlife, excellent cover Native Plant Aesthetics: Berries edible, white flowers in spring, very thorny and sprawling Scrub palmetto Sabal etonia 3 E M Dry S Av M Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Round black fruits used by many mammals and large birds Native Plant Aesthetics: Leaf stems without teeth, trunks mostly underground Dwarf palmetto Sabal minor 6 E M Moist P Av H Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Round black fruits used by mammals and large birds Native Plant Aesthetics: Leaves bluish and without teeth, trunks often underground Elderberry Sambucus canadensis 12 D M Moist S-P Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Purple fruit used by many birds, good nectar source Native Plant Aesthetics: Fruits used in jellies and wine, fragrant white flowers Saw palmetto Serenoa repens 8 E M Avg S-P Av H Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Round black fruits used by many mammals and large birds Native Plant Aesthetics: Leaf stems with teeth, excellent groundcover beneath trees Mullein nightshade Solanum erianthum 15 E M Avg S Av M Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Clusters of yellow berries used by some birds Native Plant Aesthetics: Open clusters of white flowers produced year-round Bay cedar* Suriana maritima 8 E M Avg S Av H Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Seeds used by some birds, good nesting cover Native Plant Aesthetics: Small yellow flowers year-round, dense, succulent foliage Highbush blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum 12 E M Avg P Ac N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Berries greatly prized by wildlife Native Plant Aesthetics: Sweet edible berries, bell-shaped flowers in spring Little blueberry Vaccinium darrowii 2 E M Avg-Dry S-P Ac N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Berries greatly prized by wildlife Native Plant Aesthetics: Sweet edible berries, foliage with bluish cast Shiny blueberry Vaccinium myrsinites 2 E M Avg-Dry S-P Ac N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Berries greatly prized by wildlife Native Plant Aesthetics: Sweet edible berries, shiny green foliage Deerberry Vaccinium stamineum 8 D M Avg S-P Ac N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Berries used by many wildlife species Native Plant Aesthetics: Berries bitter, bell-shaped flowers in spring Possumhaw viburnum Viburnum nudum 15 D M Moist P-Sh Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Small blue-black fruit used by many birds Native Plant Aesthetics: Large clusters of small white flowers in spring, sprawling Walter's viburnum Viburnum obovatum 15 E M Moist S-Sh Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Small black fruit used by many birds, good nesting cover Native Plant Aesthetics: Clusters of small white flowers in spring, easily pruned, versatile Rusty viburnum Viburnum rufidulum 20 0 M Avg S-Sh Av N Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Small black fruit used by many birds Native Plant Aesthetics: Large clusters of small white flowers in spring Hog plum Ximenia americana 10 E M Dry S Av M Wildlife Use of Native Plants: Yellow "plums" used by some wildlife Native Plant Aesthetics: "Plums" tart, but edible, very thorny *Indicates plants that will suffer damage from severe or prolonged freezing temperatures. **Oaks are classified as either black (B) or white (W). White oak acorns often are sweeter and more preferred by wildlife than black oak acorns.
Footnotes
1. This document is SSWIS09, one of a series of the Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date July, 1999. Revised September, 2002. Reviewed September, 2002. Visit the EDIS Web Site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.2. Craig N. Huegel, urban wildlife extension scientist, Wildlife and Range Sciences Department; Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville FL 32611-0304.
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Larry Arrington, Dean.
Copyright Information
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