The Native Garden Guide for Northeast Florida

The Native Philosophy

Pollinator's Paradise

A native garden in Northeast Florida is a sanctuary for pollinators. The Coral Honeysuckle and Butterfly Milkweed are not just plants; they're lifelines for hummingbirds and monarchs, vital threads in the ecological tapestry. And let's not overlook the Beautyberry, with its jewel-like fruits, or the Maypop Passion Vine, a climactic display of blossoms and a haven for fauna.

Northeast Florida's Native Plants

Whether you’re a seasoned horticulturist or a beginner with a budding green thumb, this list of native plants will serve as your guide to cultivating a garden that resonates with the natural ecosystem of Northeast Florida:

LIVE OAK

(Quercus virginiana)

Appearance: Majestic, broad canopy

Benefits: Wildlife habitat, iconic Southern presence

FIREBUSH

(Hamelia Patens)

Appearance: Red-orange tubular flowers

Benefits: Sun-loving, pollinator-friendly

MAYPOP

PASSION VINE

(Passiflora incarnata)

Appearance: Intricate purple and white flowers

Benefits: Host plant for butterflies, edible fruit

MUHLY GRASS

(Muhlenbergia capillaris)

Appearance: Pink to lavender plumes

Benefits: Drought-tolerant, ornamental grass

OAKLEAF HYDRANGEA

(Hydrangea quercifolia)

Appearance: White flower clusters, oak-shaped leaves

Benefits: Attracts

pollinators

CORAL HONEYSUCKLE

(Lonicera sempervirens)

Appearance: Tubular red or yellow flowers

Benefits: Hummingbird and butterfly attractor

COONTIE

(Zamia integrifolia)

Appearance: Fern-like with leathery leaves

Benefits: Drought-tolerant, historical significance

BEAUTYBERRY

(Callicarpa americana)

Appearance: Vibrant purple berries

Benefits: Wildlife food source, striking fall and winter color

SUNSHINE MIMOSA

 (Mimosa strigillosa)

Appearance: Fern-like with leathery leaves

Benefits: Drought-tolerant, historical significance

TICKSEED

(Coreopsis spp.)

Appearance: Bright yellow blossoms

Benefits: State wildflower, butterfly attractor

BLUE PORTERWEED

(Stachytarpheta jamaicensis)

Appearance: Spiky blooms of deep blue flowers

Benefits: Attracts butterflies, heat-tolerant

WALTER’S VIBURNUM

(Viburnum obovatum)

Appearance: White spring flowers, red fall foliage

Benefits: Year-round interest, versatile growth patterns

This collection of plants is just the beginning. Each species selected for your garden contributes to the tapestry of a thriving, sustainable ecosystem that celebrates the essence of Northeast Florida. For more Florida natives

Advanced Drainage Transforms a Jacksonville Riverfront Yard into a Water-Efficient Landscape.

Unveil the Blossoming Charm of Spring

Bring the freshness of spring to your garden with our "Spring Blush" container garden recipe, a delightful assembly that captures the season's splendor. Centered around the Cleome 'Senorita Rosalita' a stunning thriller with vibrant pink blossoms, this garden is a tapestry of texture and color. Complementing the Cleome, the soft, velvety foliage of the Lamb's Ear plant adds a soothing contrast. The heart of this arrangement lies in the Confetti Garden® Hunny Bunny, a harmonious trio of Empress Flaire Lavender Blue Verbena, Aloha Kona Soft Pink Calibrachoa, and Potunia® Popcorn Petunia, serving as lush fillers that infuse varied hues and shapes. Cascading gracefully over the container's edge is the White Bacopa, its delicate flowers creating a soft, spilling effect that completes the ensemble.

Celebrate spring's awakening with this "Spring Blush" combo, perfect for brightening patios, balconies, or any outdoor space.

1. Cleome 'Senorita Rosalita': This thriller plant boasts vibrant, pink flowers and a bushy growth habit, offering a long blooming season and resistance to pests, making it a hassle-free centerpiece for any container garden.

2. Lamb's Ear: Known for its soft, fuzzy leaves that resemble a lamb's ear, this plant adds a unique texture to the arrangement and thrives in sunny conditions, providing a lovely silver-green hue.

3. Confetti Garden® Hunny Bunny:

• a. Empress Flaire Lavender Blue Verbena: With its striking lavender-blue flowers, this plant adds a touch of cool-toned elegance and is known for its vigorous growth and heat tolerance.
• b. Aloha Kona Soft Pink Calibrachoa: This variety dazzles with soft pink blooms, offering a continuous display of color and an easy-to-maintain nature.
• c. Potunia® Popcorn Petunia: Known for its creamy, popcorn-like flowers, this petunia variant adds a cheerful and voluminous aspect to the container garden.

4. White Bacopa: A favorite spiller for many gardeners, White Bacopa features an abundance of tiny white flowers and a trailing habit, ideal for softening the edges of the container and adding a delicate, cascading element.

Our March tips revolve around the ushering in of longer days with warming soils that lift lawn turf from slumber and encourage new growth throughout the landscape.

Did You Know?

We add nearly one full hour to our day in March. And Spring officially arrives on Monday, March 19th.

Fertilizing Tips for Other Common Florida Plants

PALMS: We recommend quarterly fertilization with heaviest feeding in Fall and Spring and lighter fertilization in Spring and Winter. We recommend Espoma Palm Tone and  Jacks Palm Food 16-5-25 which is water soluble with micronutrients.

BIRDS OF PARADISE: These heavy feeders require fertilization to maximize foliage and flowering capacity. Meanwhile, the UF/IFAS recommends quarterly fertilization. Tropical Plants of Florida recommends bi-weekly fertilization in spring and monthly during summer.

CRAPE MYRTLES: Crape Myrtles are heavy feeders that respond well to liquid and granular balanced fertilization as often as every two weeks during Spring and Summer. You'll want to use a balanced fertilizer such as Jacks All Purpose 20-20-20.

ROSES: Consider monthly fertilization from mid-February through November for optimum foliage and blooms on your roses. Roses are highly susceptible to powdery mildew and leaf spots from which you can curtail damage with regular Bonide Copper Fungicide treatments.

FRUIT TREES: You can apply a slow-release citrus fertilizer, Espoma Citrus Tone, in March, June, and September or with its safer 5-2-6 ratio, starting in March and once every six weeks through September.

Happy Healthy Pond Fish

is as Easy as 1•2•3.

Donna McGinnis,

President and CEO of Naples Botanical Garden

Earth Works Gardens | earthworksjax.com |996-0712 | 12501 Beach Blvd.