Florida Native Plant Society Blog

by Bob Silverman Blanketflower, Galliardia pulchella You don’t have to travel far to see one of the hundreds of native flowers that make Florida stand out. They’re nature’s roadside attractions, and many can make for colorful additions to your yard. Consider these natural wonders: Beautyberry, Callicarpa americana - this shrub dazzles with its clumps of purple fruit that will draw birds to your yard. Black-eyed Susans, Rudbeckia spp. - with a brown center surrounded by petals of yellow, golden, orange, or red petals, is perfect for attracting butterflies to your garden. Firebush, Hamelia patens var. patens - with its bright red flowers, can serve as a beacon for hummingbirds, butterflies, and songbirds (which like to feed on its berries). Tickseed, Coreopsis spp.  - our state wildflower, sometimes called Coreopsis, comes in 12 species native to Florida. You’ll find all of them in the northern part of the state, but South Florida is limited to Leavenworth’s tickseed...

The Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway section between SR-200 and 80th Avenue Road near Dunnellon has populations of the endangered and endemic Longspurred Mint ( Dicerandra cornutissima ) that were impacted by a trail widening project. We will be planting locally-adapted native plants to restore the site continuing the work of our previous volunteer days July 7th and 8th. This project is made possible by a grant from Duke Energy for "Conservation and Habitat Restoration for Two Florida Endemic Mints." #DukeEnergy  @DukeEnergy Register for Tuesday here and/or Wednesday here .  Make sure to bring a mask, a shovel, drinking water for yourself, snacks for yourself, closed-toed shoes, bug spray, sun protective clothing and sunblock.

Photo by of Leavenworth's Tickseed, Coreopsis leavenworthii , in Lake Harney Wilderness Area, Seminole County, by iNaturalist user brent313, CC BY-NC 4.0 Two of Florida’s leading native habitat conservation organizations have strengthened their partnership in order to collaborate on future projects. The Florida Wildflower Foundation (FWF) and Florida Native Plant Society (FNPS) formalized their longtime partnership by signing an agreement on June 6 to work in tandem for the good of native, natural Florida. The organizations will continue to pursue their own goals while collaborating on projects compatible with their missions. FWF protects, connects and expands native habitat corridors across Florida through education, planting, conservation and research projects. FNPS, which has 34 chapters throughout the state, preserves, conserves and restores native plants and native plant communities. The organizations will assess opportunities to team on such initiatives as nat...

I.I. Winner at the 39th Annual Conference in Crystal River. She is on the far left in white. by Jody Wood-Putnam I met I.I. Winner as a Florida Master Gardener trainee in 2004.  She was a already a certified Master Gardener at that time and she went out of her way to introduce herself and to make me feel welcome to the program.  She introduced me to the other Master Gardeners and showed me the ropes. As time went on, I came to realize that this graciousness and making others feel special was part of what made I.I. the wonderful person she was. I.I. loved gardening and she loved most things in nature, in particular flowers, butterflies and birds.  She could often be found gardening on a lot next door to her home which she called “God's Little Acre" and had made into a beautiful wildlife habitat.  I.I. was a person who made things happen.  In 2007, she helped to found the Sweet Bay Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society. I.I. was an active member of the Chapt...

The Florida Native Plant Society is teaming up with the U.S. Forest Service and Green Isle Gardens to prevent further erosion from damaging Silver Glen Springs. You can help by volunteering your time to help us plant. Make sure to bring a mask, a shovel, drinking water for yourself, snacks for yourself, closed-toed shoes, bug spray, sun protective clothing and sunblock. Register for Thursday here and/or Friday here . We start at 8am both days and are done by noon.