Florida Native Plant Society Blog

If you're out in the dry pinelands and sandhills of North Florida right now you might be blessed with seeing the blooms of the White Wild Indigo, Baptisia alba . White Wild Indigo at San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park , Alachua County, March, 2019. Photo © Susan Carr White Wild indigo is a handsome member of the Legume family. Standing at over 3 feet tall, this spring bloomer waves above the surrounding vegetation and is very attractive to pollinators. White Wild Indigo at San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park , Alachua County, March, 2019. Photo © Susan Carr There are nine species of Wild Indigos or Baptisia s in Florida. Wild White Indigo ( B. alba ) is in the B. alba - B. tinctoria Clade of the Genus Baptisias . This means that it is more closely related to Apalachicola Wild Indigo, Baptisia megacarpa , than any of the other seven species of Wild Ingidos in Florida 1 . White Wild Indigo at San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park , Alachua ...

Barbara Jackson, environmental activist and president of the FNPS Ixia Chapter. Photo from A Lesson in Outreach By Barbara Jackson, President, FNPS, Ixia Chapter “Nothing Is Ever Easy at the Shipyards” This statement, from an environmental consultant in Jacksonville, has proven to be completely true. He should know. He has been involved in the Shipyards for over fifteen years, advising the City of Jacksonville and others about this almost forty-acre site. Luckily for our Ixia Chapter, he gave us free advice as we attempted to plant a wildflower garden at the Shipyards. The Shipyards is in downtown Jacksonville and is situated on the St. Johns River. It was a working shipyard from the 1850’s until 1992. After its closure, two different companies purchased the land with the idea of development, only to be defeated by the economy. It was then claimed by the City of Jacksonville. The land sat idle for years, used for downtown event over-flow parking, surrounded by a chain link fe...

Florida wildflower seeds sell quickly. Spring means plentiful natives in bloom, especially in Volusia County, which offers plentiful natural lands to explore. The county’s flowers are the perfect foil for the March 26 Florida Wildflower & Garden Festival in downtown DeLand – a gathering of speakers, vendors and organizations that celebrates our native wildflowers. This year’s family-friendly event again blends education, entertainment and fun. Vendors will line West Indiana Avenue selling potted wildflowers and plants, seeds, garden utensils, yard ornaments, books and more. Joining them will be organizations such as the Florida Wildflower Foundation, local Florida Native Plant Society chapters, and garden clubs, all which will offer information on native wildflowers and plants, as well as Florida gardening in general. Last year's festival was well attended. Six wildflower, gardening and pollinator experts will give presentations at the historic Athens Theatre, 124 N....

Do you want to know how to grow your own native wildflowers? Doesn't everyone want to have more of these colorful beauties in their gardens? Jeff Norcini, an expert who works with the  Florida Wildflower Foundation has given us some great tips. Read on and you will find out how you can fill your garden with color, and at a fraction of the price you would pay at the nursery. First of all, says Jeff,  you need to decide what kind of planting you will be doing. Will it be:     •    a few containers     •    a small corner or two     •    a bed that fits into a formal design     •    a bed that is part of a more naturalistic design Grow your own blanket flower and bee balm! Let's start with the most simple ones, containers and small corners. For these smaller areas, you can get a spot of native color by planting a flat or two at home. It's easy! Jef...