Common Native Wildflowers of North Florida
The species in this publication are plants that are native to the US 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 wildflower habitat is from Guide to the Vascular Plants of the Florida Panhandle by A.F. Clewell (see references).
References
Bell, C.R. and B.J. Taylor. 1982. Florida Wild Flowers and Roadside Plants. Chapel Hill, NC: Laurel Hill Press.
Clewell, A.F. 1985. Guide to the Vascular Plants of the Florida Panhandle. Tallahassee, FL: Florida State University Press.
Jones, S.B., Jr. and L.E. Foote. 1990. Gardening with Native Wild Flowers. Portland, OR: Timber Press.
Native Nurseries, Tallahassee, FL. 1997. (pers. comm.).
Phillips, H.R. 1985. Growing and Propagating Wild Flowers. Chapel Hill, NC: The University of North Carolina Press.
Rickett, H.W. 1967. Wild Flowers of the United States, Volume 2: The Southeastern States. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
USDA, NRCS 1999. The PLANTS database. (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 US.
Taylor, W.K. 1992. The Guide to Florida Wildflowers. Dallas, TX: Taylor Publishing Co.
Taylor, W.K. 1998. Florida Wildflowers In Their Natural Communities. Gainesville, FL: University Press of Florida.
Tables
Descriptions of some native habitats (from Guide to the Vascular Plants of the Florida Panhandle).
Wildflowers for Shade Conditions (species that prefer shade or will tolerate shade like that under a high hardwood forest canopy).