Common Native Wildflowers of North Florida¹

Jeffrey G. Norcini²

The species in this publication are plants that are native to the U.S. and occur in Florida; most of them are considered native to Florida. You might observe these species along the roadside in North Florida, or while you're taking a hike in a natural area. Information shown in the following tables is based on personal observations and on information obtained from the references listed in the next section. Plant type, flowering, native habitat, and light requirement refer to North Florida conditions. Some of these species may be available at local garden centers or retail nurseries, especially those that specialize in native plants.

The species information presented refers primarily to plants as they occur in the wild. Wildflowers or cultivars obtained through seed companies or at local garden centers may differ substantially in flowering season, appearance, site requirement, and pest susceptibility. In addition, plants derived from a local native population of a wildflower species that are grown under garden conditions (applying supplemental water/fertilizer, pesticides, etc.) may differ in appearance, flowering time, and pest susceptibility compared to that same species as it grows in the wild. Fertilization, if necessary, should be kept to a minimum, especially if using wildflowers derived from a local native population.

The "Uses and Comments" column is included as a guide as to where these species could be used in a residential or commercial landscape. Choose a site with well-drained soil, and consider a species light preference and native habitat. Much of the information about native habitat is from Guide to the Vascular Plants of the Florida Panhandle by A.F. Clewell (see references).

References

Apalachee Native Nursery, Monticello, FL. 1997. (pers. comm.).

Bell, C.R. and B.J. Taylor. 1982. Florida Wild Flowers and Roadside Plants. Laurel Hill Press, Chapel Hill, N.C.

Clewell, A.F. 1985. Guide to the Vascular Plants of the Florida Panhandle. Florida State University Press, Tallahassee, FL.

Jones, S.B., Jr. and L.E. Foote. 1990. Gardening with Native Wild Flowers. Timber Press, Portland, OR.

Native Nurseries, Tallahassee, FL. 1997. (pers. comm.).

Phillips, H.R. 1985. Growing and Propagating Wild Flowers. The University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, NC.

Rickett, H.W. 1967. Wild Flowers of the United States, Volume 2: The Southeastern States. McGraw-Hill, New York, NY.

USDA, NRCS 1999. The PLANTS database. (http://plants.usda.gov.). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.

Taylor, W.K. 1992. The Guide to Florida Wildflowers. Taylor Publishing Co., Dallas, TX.

Taylor, W.K. 1998. Florida Wildflowers In Their Natural Communities. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.

Tables

Table 1.

Descriptions of some native habitats (from Guide to the Vascular Plants of the Florida Panhandle).

Native Habitat Type	Description
Sandhills	Pineland (slash/longleaf) on dry site; understory of turkey oaks or other scrub oaks
Flatwoods	Pineland (slash/longleaf) on moist site; may have understory of saw palmetto
Pine-oak-hickory woods	Occurs on upland loamy soil and on sandy rims of river bluffs
Secondary woods	Reforested lands on drier upland sites
Hammocks	Mixed hardwood forest; soils are moist but not overly wet
Ruderal (disturbed areas)	Areas such as roadsides, lawns, vacant lots, etc.

Table 2.

Wildflowers for Shade Conditions (species that prefer shade or will tolerate shade like that under a high hardwood forest canopy).

Scientific Name	Common Name	Plant Type¹	Flower Season	Flower Color	Height (in flower)	Native Habitat	Uses and Comments
Aquilegia canadensis	Columbine	Perennial	March to April	Red and yellow	1 1/2 to 2 feet	Calcareous woods	Slightly moist site; use for naturalizing; hummingbirds; foliage may die back in summer
Coreopsis integrifolia	Chipola Coreopsis	Perennial; evergreen	September to November	Yellow	2 to 3 feet	Floodplains; riverbanks	Moist site; fall flowering coreopsis
Lilium superbum	Turk's-cap Lily	Perennial	July	Orangish red	3 to 9 feet	Hammocks	Moist site; use for naturalizing
Lobelia cardinalis	Cardinal Flower	Perennial	August to October	Intense red	2 to 4 feet	Riverbanks; springs; coastal hammocks	Excellent for moist site; not rec. for full sun; red flowers easy to spot in woods
Packera glabella (Senecio glabellus)	Golden Ragwort; Jeffrey Butterweed	Annual	February to April	Yellow	2 to 4 feet	Floodplains; marshes; along streams; ruderal²	Moist site
Phlox divaricata	Blue Phlox	Perennial; semi-evergreen	February to April	Blue	10 inches	Bluffs; calcareous hammocks	Slightly moist site; foliage may die back in summer
Salvia lyrata	Lyreleaf Sage; Cancer Weed	Perennial; may be evergreen	February to May; October	Purple	1 to 1 1/2 feet	Disturbed areas; marshes	Slightly moist site; sun or shade; ornamental foliage; reseeds
Senecio aureus	Golden Ragwort	Perennial; evergreen	March to June	Yellow	Groundcover with 2- to 3-foot flowering stems	Floodplains	Woodlands; moist site
Spigelia marilandica	Indian Pink; Woodland Pinkroot	Perennial	April to May	Red and Yellow	1 to 1 1/2 feet	Bluffs; calcareous hammocks	Rich soil; woodland edges; tubular flowers
¹Plant type - Unless otherwise noted, all species are herbaceous and not evergreen
²Ruderal means disturbed areas such as roadsides, lawns, vacant lots, etc.

Table 3.

Wildflowers for High Light Conditions (full sun; filtered sun like that under a high pine canopy; edges of woodlands).

Scientific Name	Common Name	Plant Type¹	Flower Season	Flower Color	Height (in flower)	Native Habitat	Uses and Comments
Aletris lutea	Yellow Colicroot	Perennial	March to May	Yellow	2 to 3 feet	Flatwoods; bogs; moist ruderal²sites	Moist site; roadside ditches or backslopes
Amsonia ciliata	Bluestar; Blue Dogbane	Perennial	April to November	Powder Blue	1 to 3 feet	Sandhills, scrubs; sandy ruderal²sites	Beautiful blue flower for sandy site
Asclepias humistrata	Pinewoods Milkweed	Perennial	April to June	Pinkish	Prostrate but some stems may ascend	Sandhills, scrubs; dunes	Dry, sandy site; showy foliage (pinkish purple venation)
Asclepias tuberosa	Butterfly Weed	Perennial	May to October	Orange	Up to 32 inches	Sandhills; flatwoods; secondary woods	Hot, dry site
Berlandiera pumila	Soft Greeneyes	Perennial	March to June	Yellow	2 to 3 feet	Sandhills	Dry, sandy site; roadsides
Carphephorus odoratissimus	Vanilla Plant; Deer Tongue	Perennial	September to November	Purple	2 to 3 feet	Flatwoods; bogs; pond margins	Slightly moist site; dead leaves usually have vanilla scent
Cassia (Chamaecrista) fasciculata	Partridge-Pea	Annual; semi-woody	July to October	Yellow	3 to 4 feet	Sandhills; flatwoods; disturbed areas; secondary woods	Hot, dry site; reseeds
Conoclinium coelestinum	Wild Ageratum; Mistflower	Perennial	July to November	Bluish Purple	2 to 3 feet	Floodplains; moist woodland edges; pond margins; ruderal²	Slightly moist site; spreads vegetatively; reseeds
Coreopsis basalis	Dye Flower; Texas Tickseed	Annual	April to June	Yellow	1 to 1 1/2 feet	Disturbed areas	Meadows; dry site; reseeds
Coreopsis lanceolata	Lanceleaf Coreopsis	Perennial; semi-evergreen to evergreen	June to October	Yellow	Up to 2 feet; usually about 1 foot	Sandhills; disturbed areas; edges of cypress swamps	Slightly dry to slightly moist site; reseeds; remove faded blossoms for reflowering
Coreopsis leavenworthii	Leavenworth's Coreopsis	Perennial	July to September	Yellow	1 to 3 feet	Disturbed areas; moist areas	Moist site; edges of woodlands; reseeds
Coreopsis nudata	Swamp Coreopsis; Georgia Tickseed	Perennial	March to June	Pink	2 to 4 feet	Flatwoods; bogs; cypress ponds; wet ditches	Moist site; only pink coreopsis in Florida
Erigeron quercifolius	Southern Fleabane; Oakleaf Fleabane	Perennial	March to June	White with pinkish to purplish tint	1 to 2 feet	Sandhills; disturbed areas; lake margins	Disturbed site; mass planting results in a 'sea of white'
Eupatorium fistulosum	Joe-Pye Weed; Trumpetweed	Perennial	July	Purplish	6 feet or more	Stream banks; wet hammocks; pastures; moist woodland edges	Slightly moist site; large, showy flower heads
Gaillardia pulchella	Blanketflower; Firewheel; Indian Blanket	Annual	May to October	Yellow and red; red; yellow; rose	1 to 2 feet	Disturbed areas; sandy open sites	Excellent for hot, dry site; reseeds; blue-green foliage
Helianthus angustifolius	Swamp Sunflower; Narrow-leaved Sunflower	Perennial	September to October	Yellow	2 feet, but up to 6 feet	Flatwoods; bogs, marshes; disturbed areas; secondary woods	Moist site; very showy yellow fall flower; spreads vegetatively
Helianthus debilis subsp. debilis	Beach Sunflower; Dune Sunflower; Cucumberleaf Sunflower	Annual/Perennial; semi-evergreen	June to August	Yellow	Groundcover, up to 3 feet high	Disturbed areas; beaches	Sandy site in full sun; not freeze tolerant
Helianthus radula	Rayless Sunflower	Perennial	September to November	Dark purple disk flowers (few to no ray flowers)	2 to 3 feet	Flatwoods	Slightly moist site; novelty plant
Ipomopsis rubra	Standing Cypress; Spanish Larkspur	Perennial	July to October	Scarlet	3 to 6 feet	Sandhills; disturbed areas; dunes	Don't use in clayey soils; hummingbirds; feathery foliage
Jacquemontia tamnifolia	Hairy Clustervine; Jacquemontia	Annual; may be semi-woody	July to October	Blue	Creeping or climbing vine	Disturbed areas; floodplains	Slightly dry to slightly moist site; blue summer flowers; reseeds
Liatris elegans	Pinkscale Blazing Star	Perennial	September to October	Lavender	2 to 4 feet	Sandhills; mesic longleaf pinelands; edges of woodlands	Well-drained site; tall flowering stems tend to lodge
Liatris gracilis	Slender Blazing Star	Perennial	September to October	Lavender	2 to 4 feet	Sandhills; flatwoods; bogs; dry bluffs; woodland edges	Well-drained site; tall flowering stems tend to lodge
Lobelia cardinalis	Cardinal Flower	Perennial	August to October	Bright red	2 to 4 feet	Riverbanks; springs; coastal hammocks	Excellent for moist site; not rec. for full sun; red flowers easy to spot in woods
Lupinus perennis	Sundial Lupine	Perennial	March to April	Bluish purple	1 to 2 feet	Sandhills; open woods	Excellent for hot, dry site in full sun; palmately compound leaves
Lupinus villosus	Lady Lupine	Perennial	March to April	Pinkish purple	1 to 1 1/2 feet or more	Sandhills; scrub	Excellent for hot, dry site in full sun; silvery (hairy) ovalish leaves
Monarda punctata	Spotted OR Dotted/Horsemint OR Beebalm	Perennial; may be semi-woody	August to October	Yellowish with pinkish purple bracts	1 1/2 to 3 feet	Disturbed areas; open sandy areas; floodplains	Hot, dry site; unusual flower; best viewed close up
Passiflora incarnata	Passion-Flower; Maypop	Perennial	April to August	Purple	Creeping or climbing vine	Disturbed areas; edges of woodlands	Slightly dry to slightly moist site; exquisite flower; spreads vegetatively
Phlox divaricata	Blue Phlox	Perennial; semi-evergreen	February to April	Blue	10 inches	Bluffs; calcareous hammocks	Slightly moist site; foliage may die back in summer; not recommended for full sun
Phlox drummondii	Drummond Phlox	Annual	March to June	White; pink; purple; red	6 to 12 inches	Disturbed areas	Hot, dry site; reseeds
Pityopsis graminifolia	Grass-leaved Golden Aster	Perennial; semi-evergreen to evergreen	August to November	Yellow	1 1/2 to 3 feet	Sandhills; flatwoods; scrubs; bog; pine-hickory-oak woods	Good for dry site; low-growing, silvery grass-like foliage; spreads vegetatively
Rhexia mariana	Maryland Meadow Beauty; Pale Meadow Beauty	Perennial	May to October	Light pink	1 1/2 to 2 1/2 feet	Sandhills; flatwoods; bogs; marshes; wet ditches	Edges of woodlands; moist site; roadside ditches; meadows
Rhexia parviflora	White Meadow Beauty	Perennial	June to August	White	Up to 16 inches	Margins of open cypress swamps	Slightly moist site; Rhexias have interesting urn-shaped capsules
Rudbeckia fulgida	Orange Coneflower	Perennial	August to October	Yellow	1 to 1 1/2 feet	Slightly moist areas	Slightly moist site; spreads vegetatively
Rudbeckia graminifolia	Grassleaf Coneflower	Perennial	May to September	Orangish red	2 to 3 feet	Bogs; cypress swamps	Moist site; grass-like foliage; reflexed petals
Rudbeckia hirta	Black-eyed Susan	Annual; Perennial (short-lived)	May to October	Yellow	1 1/2 to 2 feet	Sandhills; bogs; pine forests	Slightly dry site; full sun to part shade; reseeds
Rudbeckia mollis	Softhair Coneflower	Annual	June to July	Yellow	1 1/2 to 3 feet	Sandhills	Hot, dry site; several flowers per stem in a raceme
Rhynchospora colorata	Starrush; White-top Sedge	Perennial	June to November	White (with white bracts)	1 to 3 feet	Flatwoods; bogs; coastal swales	Wet site in full sun; spreads vegetatively
Sabatia bartramii	Bartram's Rosegentian	Annual	July to August	Purplish pink	2 to 3 feet	Bogs; cypress swamps	Moist site; exquisite flower with satin-like finish; must see to appreciate
Salvia lyrata	Lyreleaf Sage; Cancer Weed	Perennial; (may be evergreen)	February to May; October	Purple	1 to 1 1/2 feet	Disturbed areas; marshes	Slightly moist site; sun or shade; ornamental foliage; reseeds
Saururus cernuus	Lizard's-tail	Perennial	May to June	White	1 to 3 feet	Floodplains; acid swamps; marshes	Wet ditches; pond, river, stream margins
Sisyrinchium atlanticum	Eastern Blue-eyed Grass	Perennial; evergreen	March to May	Blue	Up to 2 feet	Flatwoods; bogs; swales in sandhills; riverbanks; hammocks	Slightly moist site; showy blue flowers in spring; grass-like foliage
Solidago spp.	Goldenrods	Perennial	August to November	Yellow	1 1/2 to 6 feet or more	Varies	Slightly dry to slightly moist site depending on species; showy early fall flowers
Spiranthes vernalis	Spring Ladies' Tresses	Perennial	April to June	White (spiral on stem)	10 to 18 inches	Flatwoods; riverbanks; ruderal²	Slightly moist site; frequently occurs in turf that hasn't been mowed in the spring
Vernonia angustifolia	Tall Ironweed	Perennial	July to October	Purple	2 to 4 feet	Sandhills; secondary woods	Woodland edges; dry site; combine with goldenrods
Vernonia gigantea	Giant Ironweed	Perennial	June to October	Purple	2 to 7 feet	Hammocks; floodplains; coastal hammocks; bluffs	Woodland edges; moist site; combine with goldenrods
Zephyranthes atamasco	Atamasco-Lily; Rain Lily; Zephyr Lily	Perennial	February to March	White to light pink	1 to 2 feet	River swamps; limestone outcrops; bluffs; roadsides	Moist site; sun or shade; use in masses
^{1 Plant type - Unless otherwise noted, all species are herbaceous and not evergreen}

^{2 Ruderal means disturbed areas such as roadsides, lawns, vacant lots, etc.}

Footnotes

This document is Circular 1246, one of a series of the Environmental Horticulture Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date February 1, 2000. Revised June 2002. Visit the EDIS Web Site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

Jeffrey G. Norcini, associate professor, native wildflower and grass specialist, Environmental Horticulture Department, North Florida Research and Education Center, Cooperative Extension Service, Insitute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611.

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.

Common Native Wildflowers of North Florida1

References

Tables

Footnotes

Common Native Wildflowers of North Florida¹