SPECIES INFORMATION

Florida Wildflower Foundation Photo Gallery in Alphabetical Format by Botanical name
Photos courtesy of Joan Brookwell, Photographer and Co-Author of Florida Native Plants available at Amazon.com

Visit The Florida Museum of Natural History where you will find a searchable database of butterflies and wildflowers http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/wildflower/

For more information on Florida wildflower seeds and plants already available for cultivation, visit these websites:

* Wildflower Seed and Plant Growers Association, Inc.: http://www.floridawildflowers.com/

* Association of Florida Native Nurseries: http://www.afnn.org/

The following Florida wildflowers are examples of the many native species suitable for roadside and urban plantings. They are arranged alphabetically by scientific name, which is best to use in searching for more detailed information. For “Florida Region,” N = north, C = central, and S = south. For “soils,” D = dry soils and M = moist soils. For “season,” Spr = spring, Sum = summer, F = fall, W = winter. Many of these are available from Florida native nurseries; a small but growing number are available from Florida-based seed producers. Links to images will open in new browser window.

Common Name Scientific Name Florida Region Flower Color Soils Bloom Season Notes
fringed bluestar Amsonia ciliata N, C blue D Spr, Sum good for sandhill sites
butterflyweed Asclepias tuberosa N,C, S orange-red D** Sum, F **urban sites only; toxic to cattle
Elliott’s aster Aster elliottii N, C, S pink-lavender M Sum, F fairly tall, good in clumps
yellow buttons Balduina angustifolia N, C, S yellow D F great yellow display
partridge pea Chamaecrista fasciculata N, C, S yellow D Spr, Sum nitrogen-fixing legume; good for poor soils
Florida coreopsis Coreopsis floridana N, C, S yellow M F, W endemic State Wildflower
long-leaf coreopsis Coreopsis gladiata C, S yellow M Sum, F State Wildflower
lance-leaf coreopsis Coreopsis lanceolata N, C yellow D Spr State Wildflower
Leavenworth’s coreopsis Coreopsis leavenworthii N, C, S yellow D, M Sum, F endemic State Wildflower
pink coreopsis Coreopsis nudata N pink-lavender M Spr State Wildflower
purple love grass Eragrostis spectabilis N, C, S lavender D, M Sum, F sparkly in sun with dew
oak-leaf fleabane Erigeron quercifolius N, C, S white-pale pink D, M Spr, Sum mow after seed set
slender goldenrod Euthamia caroliniana N, C, S yellow D, M Sum, F great yellow color
joepye-weed Eupatorium fistulosum N, C pink-purple M Sum, F tall, for outer swale edges
yellowtops Flaveria linearis N, C, S yellow D Sum, F use only in coastal areas
firewheel Gaillardia pulchella N, C, S red& yellow D all pretty in swaths
narrow-leaf sunflower Helianthus angustifolius N, C yellow M Sum, F showy in wet places
standing-cypress Ipomopsis rubra N, C red D Sum tall, for sandy slopes
Chapman’s gayfeather Liatris chapmanii N, C, S pink-lavender D F great display, like all Liatris (blazing stars)
pinkscale gayfeather Liatris elegans   pale lavender D F tolerates disturbance
slender gayfeather Liatris gracilis N, C, S lavender D, M Sum, F great lavender display
winged loosestrife Lythrum alatum N, C, S bluish pink M Sum showy ditch-edge plant
powderpuff Mimosa strigillosa N, C pink D Spr to F pretty ground cover
spotted beebalm Monarda punctata N, C, S pink-lavender D Spr to F best show in clumps
hairawn muhly grass Muhlenbergia capillaris N, C, S deep pink D, M F, W use regional varieties; large grass, for clumping
downy phlox Phlox pilosa N, C pink-blue D Spr attractive native phlox
West Indian meadowbeauty Rhexia cubensis N, C, S lavender M Spr to Fall good ditch plant
blackeyed susan Rudbeckia hirta N, C, S yellow D Sum, F use native ecotypes
soft-hair coneflower Rudbeckia mollis N, C yellow D Sum large, showy heads
lyre-leaf sage Salvia lyrata N, C blue D Spr to F mow after seed set
perennial yellow foxtail grass Setaria parviflora N, C, S yellowish white D, M all low grass, bristly small spikes sparkly with dew
lopside Indian grass Sorghastrum secundum N, C, S shiny brown D Sum, F a standout in swaths
bluejacket Tradescantia ohiensis N, C blue M Spr, Sum showy blue in clumps
Florida ironweed Vernonia blodgettii S magenta M Sum, F likes limestone below soil
giant ironweed Vernonia gigantea N, C purple M Sum, F tall, for outer swale edge