wildflower

Rustweed

Rustweed – Polypremum procumbens, the sole species in the genus Polypremum from the family Tetrachondraceae. It can be a perennial or annual forb/herb with low-growing, sometimes multiple ascending stems. Small white blooms appear in summer and fall. Leaves are opposite, 1–2.5 cm long, narrow, and pointed. The foliage turns a beautiful brownish-red in autumn.
Their range includes the Eastern United States, except the New England region, extending south to Central America and the West Indies, with some occurrences in South America. In the southeastern USA, it thrives in coastal plain and piedmont regions, often in disturbed areas, and is rare in mountainous regions.
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Camphorweed

Camphorweed (Heterotheca subaxillaris) is a Florida native and can be found throughout Florida. It prefers dry, sandy soils. Look for camphorweed in scrubs, coastal dunes, and grasslands where it attracts bees and butterflies.
The annual or biennial shrub grows up to three feet tall and spreads 10-20 feet. Camphorweed blooms all summer and fall and in the right conditions may bloom year-round. It propagates by seeds found in the brown, fuzzy flowerhead. The plant has a pleasant camphor-like scent.
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Carolina Wild Petunia

Carolina Wild Petunia, Ruellia caroliniensis, is the perfect native flower to replace the invasive Mexican petunia. This long-lived perennial reaches 1 to 2 1/2 ft tall and is a wonderful ground cover. The gorgeous lavender flowers last only a day but this wild petunia blooms from early spring through fall in sun or shade.
Look for Carolina wild petunia seeds at Native nurseries and FNPS plant sales. Plants that are a few years old can be propagated by division. Plant Carolina Wild petunias in your garden to attract pollinators. White Peacock and Common Buckeye butterfflies use the plant as a larval host.
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Bluehearts

Bluehearts, Buchnera floridana, are most often found in coastal plains. These native wildflowers do best in fire-maintained ecosystems including flatwoods, pine savannas, and on roadsides. Violet-blue flowers bloom year-round atop 15 – 31 inch tall stems. When dried, the stem turns black.

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Yellow Milkwort

Yellow milkwort (Polygala rugelli) is also known as Rugel’s milkwort. These beautiful annual wildflowers blossom on top of tall thin stems that can reach heights of 1 – 3 feet tall. The leaves are larger near the bottom and smaller and sparser near the top of the stem where the 3/4 – 1 inch dazzling yellow flower blooms. This endemic plant blooms all year in the Florida peninsula but is most prolific in the summer and fall. It reproduces by seeds, some of which are dispersed by ants that take the seeds to their nest. There the ants eat the food bodies known as elaiosomes before discarding the seeds outside the nest where they will take root. Look for Yellow Milkwort in wet pine flatwoods, savannas, and at the edges of marshes.
Photo credit: Aymee Laurain
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Cradle Creek Preserve

Located in Jacksonville Beach, Cradle Creek Preserve is a 45-acre reserve in northeast Florida. Containing saltwater marshes, maritime forests, and bottomland swamps, it is easy to see why this area was selected to conserve against development.
 
Cradle Creek is the last large piece of undeveloped land along the Intercoastal Waterway in Jacksonville Beach. This parcel was set aside to protect the many rare species that depend upon these ecosystems and allow people to experience a relatively untouched piece of natural, coastal Florida.
 
You will find a lovely trail just over half a mile long there. As you casually meander through the bottomland swamp, keep a careful eye out and you may catch a glimpse of a Florida box turtle foraging in the mud for tasty worms or mushrooms. In the summer, lizards’ tails and jack-in-the-pulpit bloom on the forest floor. Ironweeds bloom from the mucky bottom with purple flowers that attract a whole host of pollinators. In the winter months, keep your head up as you look amongst the resurrection ferns coating the oaks for dainty little green blooms of the greenfly orchids. The American Holly boasts big clumps of bright red berries, just the perfect treat for birds such as the grey catbird, bluebirds, and others.
 
You will find yourself in a maritime forest as you continue along the boardwalks and nice, clear trails. These are really unique forests shaped by winds and salt spray. You will notice many of the same species of trees and understory plants you are used to seeing in other parts of Florida. Live oak, longleaf pine, loblolly pine, and palmettos are all common plants here. Maritime forests closer to the dunes will have canopies trimmed short by high winds off the ocean. The maritime forests of Cradle Creek are taller as they occur further from the dunes. These forests provide food and refuge for migrating songbirds as well as bobcats, reptiles, raccoons, and many others.
 
After passing through this forest, you will come to the saltwater marsh. This beautiful, open expanse of grasses and shallow water, dotted with cabbage palms, makes for a lovely overlook. These marshes maintain a high salinity from daily flooding due to high tides. These marshes are some of the most productive ecosystems on earth. The grasses and rushes provide cover for hatching fishes as they avoid predators in the shallows and feed on the abundant life. Herons, spoonbills, and other wading birds also find food here, trolling the muddy shallows for fish, small snakes, and crustaceans. In the mud, you can see footprints of the prior evening’s patrol of raccoons, searching for muscles, fiddler crabs, and other tasty treats.
 
You can access this park by the parking lot, located at the corner of 15th Street South and Fairway Lane in Jacksonville Beach. You can also get there via canoe or kayak by using Cradle Creek, which meets the Intercoastal Waterway at Marker 37. There is a boat landing you can use to then access the trails. So, the next time you’re in Jacksonville and want a glimpse as to what this part of Florida looked like before development, or if you just need a place to go to escape the noise for a moment and connect with nature, stop by Cradle Creek Preserve.
Photo Credit: Andy Waldo
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Golden Aster Scrub Nature Preserve

Golden Aster Scrub Nature Preserve, located in Gibsonton, Hillsborough County was acquired in 1995 through the Jan K. Platt Environmental Lands Acquisition and Protection Program. The 1,181-acre park is named for the endangered and endemic golden-aster (Chrysopsis floridana).
You may also be lucky enough to spot members of the small population of Florida scrub jays who call the preserve home. The preserve has a 3-mile trail that winds through several ecosystems and is a great way to see a representation of the real Florida while sauntering on a delightful Florida day.
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Sandhill Milkweed

Sandhill Milkweed, Asclepias humistrata, is also known as Pinewoods milkweed or Purple milkweed This native plant can be found growing up to three feet tall in sandhill, oak, and pine habitats. It is endemic to the southeastern US and can be found as far south as Central Florida. Purple veined leaves grow to 2-5 inches long from clusters of single stems. White flowers with hints of pink and lavender bloom from March through June.
Sandhill milkweed has a notably deep taproot that helps speed recovery after a fire. The best way to propagate this milkweed is with seeds from an accredited Florida native plant nursery. Pollinators including bees and butterflies visit this wildflower while Monarch butterflies and Queen butterflies use Sandhill milkweed as a larval host plant.
Photo Credit Andy Waldo Wekiwa State Park
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Blue Toadflax

Blue Toadflax, Nuttallanthus floridanus or Linaria canadensis, is also known as Canadian Toadflax. It is native to most of the eastern U.S. This annual wildflower can be found blooming in January through May throughout Florida.
Blue Toadflax produces dainty lilac-colored flowers on 12-inch stems and can be found along roadsides and in disturbed areas. The flowers resemble snapdragons. Blue Toadflax is not flax at all but is related to snapdragons. The wildflower’s seeds are dispersed by wind and often produce a spring blanket of green and lavender along highways and in gardens.
Buckeye butterflies use Blue Toadflax as a larval host plant. Invite bees, skippers, and butterflies to your yard when you plant Blue Toadflax in your native wildflower garden.
Photo Credit: Dan Kon
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Split Oak Forest WEA

Split Oak Forest is a 2,000 acres of wildlife conservation area located south of Orlando near Lake Nona. It is named for the 200-year-old oak tree that split in the middle and lived. Portions of the forest were once utilized for cattle operations and turpentine. However, Florida acquired Split Oak Forest in 1994 using funds from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Mitigation Park Program. The area is now used to protect the gopher tortoise and other species of wildlife that are federally listed and to restore and maintain the forest for the critical benefits of the state. FWC manages this Wildlife and Environmental Area.
Split Oak Forest is the home of various animal species, including sandhill cranes, gopher tortoises, white-tailed deer, fox squirrels, butterflies, kestrels, woodpeckers, and songbirds. The forest is also home to various rare plant species. The area has scrub and prairie that includes sandhill terrain. There are also a couple of ponds and Lake Hart borders the north side of the forest. This makes it the perfect spot to saunter while spotting various species of animals.
Split Oak Forest provides about 24 miles of Great Birding and Wildlife trails to enjoy alone or with family and friends. There are five named and marked trails in Split Oak: North/South Trail (5.2 miles), Lake Loop (under a mile), Center Trail (0.9 miles), Swamp Trail (0.7 miles), and the County Line Trail (0.3 miles). The remaining trails are not marked on the map and have no names. Nevertheless, those unmarked trails serve as firebreaks to maintain the ecosystems of the park.
The trails are half-shaded and half exposed so you will have the chance to be exposed to the sun while strolling or relaxing under the shadows of the trees. You can also head to the Bonnet Pond Overlook to sit down, enjoy the beautiful view and refreshing air to clear your mind. Regardless of your plans, you will have a great experience exploring the forest since it has an option for everyone.
The public can access the Split Oak Forest through Moss Park or park at 12175 Clapp Simms Duda Road. Bikes and cars are not allowed in the forest, but horses are. Look out for the variety of wildlife and plants around the park. And remember to be safe and keep yourself hydrated.
Author and Photo Credit: Steven Marquez – Student, Valencia College iof, imagineourflorida,
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Sunshine Mimosa

Sunshine Mimosa
Are you looking for a native groundcover that attracts pollinators and looks beautiful all year long? Sunshine mimosa (Mimosa strigillosa) is a fast-growing ground cover with adorable pink puffballs. It’s sometimes called “powderpuff mimosa”.
A popular trait of sunshine mimosa is the nastic response. When the leaves are touched it alters the turgor pressure in the extensor cells and causes the leaves to retract. When this happens potassium and chloride molecules leave the cells. This leads to osmosis, a mechanism that occurs when water flows towards the higher salt concentration. In this case, water flows out of those cells and reduces the turgor pressure so the leaves will close.
Do you have sunshine mimosa in your yard? What is your favorite quality of this plant?
Photo Credit: Aymee Laurain
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Moonflowers

Moonflowers, Convolvulaceae, are vines that grow to 40 feet. Native throughout Central and South Florida, these perennials are found in disturbed wetlands as well as on the edges of mangroves and lakes. The aromatic white flowers are pollinated by moths and bloom in the summer and through early fall.
Moonflowers can be a wonderful addition to your garden. Plant by a trellis or in an area where you can control the vine. Purchase your seeds from the Florida Wildflowers Growers Cooperative or plant runners from an existing vine in sandy or loamy soils. Plant a Moonflower vine and at the end of the day enjoy the fragrant blooms that stay open throughout the night.
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Indian Blanket

Indian Blanket, Gaillardia-pulchella, is also commonly known as a Firewheel. Indian Blanket flowers are members of the Aster family, grow to 1.5 feet tall and 2 feet wide, and are considered a short-lived perennial or an annual in Florida.

The Indian Blanket can often be spotted near Florida’s coasts on dry land. Since the early 1700s, this flower has been planted along roadsides much to the delight of Floridians and tourists.

A study done by Marlowe & Hufford in 2007 showed the DNA from the Indian Blanket was similar to those found in the more western species. More recent research by Weakley et al. 2020 has shown more evidence that it was likely cultivated rather than naturally spread.

The bright orange, red, and yellow flowers of the Indian Blanket make a beautiful addition to your garden. Butterflies, bees, and wasps are attracted to its pollen. Titmice, chickadees, and warblers enjoy the seeds. Once the flowers dry up, gather seeds by deadheading the plant. Indian Blankets are dormant in the winter.

Photo Credit: Aymee Laurain

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Roadside Wildflowers

Florida has many wildflower test sites along roadsides. In the panhandle, including near I10, you can see miles of these sites. These photos were taken off the side of the road in Live Oak, FL. The projects are part of Florida’s roadside plantings and highway beautification programs by the Florida Department of Transportation.

The area has a total of eight planting districts throughout the state, each with different plant species for those areas. These sites serve two major goals; to increase pollinator populations and diversity and to produce native vegetation that negates the need for mowing. The projects were also found to increase safety (Norcini 2014) and provide a great benefit through carbon sequestration (Harrison 2014). Finally, they add the beauty of true Florida that everyone can enjoy. Have you seen any roadside wildflower sites? Tell us about them in the comments.

Photo credits: Aymee Laurain

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Butterfly Pea

Spurred Butterfly Pea, Fabaceae (Leguminosae) is a native climbing or twining vine that grows up to 6 feet long. Look for this perennial in the wild throughout Florida in a variety of places including in sandhills, pinelands, and coastal plains.

Butterfly Pea is dormant in the winter and pinkish-purple flowers appear from spring through fall in most of Florida. In the southern counties, it blooms all year-round. Long-tailed skippers and northern cloudywings rely on the Butterfly pea for a host plant.

Because it adapts to many soils, Butterfly Pea can be a wonderful addition to your butterfly garden. Train it to climb a fence or use it as a ground cover. It propagates by seed and thrives in part shade or full sun.

Photo Credit ~Dan Kon – The Blue Hole Big Pine Key

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Rose-rush

Stop and smell the Rose-rush!
Rose-rush, Lygodesmia aphylla, blooms before sunrise and lasts until nightfall. The lavender, pink, or white flowers appear on this perennial that can grow up to 3 feet tall and nearly 6 feet wide.
Look for Rose-rush in dry, sandy soils such as scrub. Pollinators love this native plant. Seeds are easily collected from wilted flower heads so Rose-rush plants are available for your native wildflower garden.
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Ironweed

Ironweed (Vernonia gigantea) is a Florida native and can be a beautiful addition to your wildflower garden. Ironweed grows 3-10 feet tall, can be planted in partial shade or sun, and blooms from July through October. Butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees love this pollinator perennial. As its name suggests, ironweed is a tough plant with deep-set roots and seeds that spread easily in your garden. Be prepared to prune and maintain to keep this beauty in check.

Look for Ironweed growing in the wild where the soil is moist. You may also see this hardy plant along the side of the road or a stream as well as in the woods, prairies, savannas, and grasslands.

Photo Credit: Aymee Laurain

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Spiderwort

Spiderwort, Tradescantia ohiensis, is a native Florida wildflower. It grows in wetlands, disturbed areas, and is commonly found in Florida yards.

Spiderwort, a clumping perennial, appears in the spring and flowers and produces seeds through mid-summer. Blue, purple or white flowers grow in clusters on stems with grass-like leaves. The flowers only last until mid-day.

Spiderwort attracts pollinators and is recognized by pollination ecologists as attracting large numbers of native bees.

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