Getting Started With Natives

Shade house at Environmental Equities (an AFNN member), Pasco County.    © Shirley Denton

This page is for those embarking on the growing of native plants. It isn't gospel - just a few ideas and resources to get you started

Join the Florida Native Plant Society. Chapters sponsor programs related to growing native species. Many have plant sales and plant raffles. All have knowledgeable, interested people.

Plan. Yup, decide what you want to create. Native plant gardens range from extreme formality to casual wildness.

Study Your Site. Check the soil survey, dig a hole. If you have a natural soil, you will likely find that the plants that originally thrived in an ecosystem associated with that soil, as listed in the survey, will do well for you. If you live in a subdivision, you may live on fill. Good luck. Check the pH, check the soil texture, and consider that your site is probably drier than it once was. Plan for the current site condition.

Read. The books listed on this page will help.

Visit demonstration gardens. Many Water Management District offices and parks have these.

Learn your local sources. Check out native plant nurseries in your area (see the AFNN link). Check out local retailers. Some of the most easily grown natives are very widely available.

Consult an expert. If you want help in planning, check out a landscape designer who specializes in natives. Check the pages of the Palmetto for leads.

Buy locally grown plants. Plants adapted to the climate of your region will do better than imports. A mahogony (from the Florida Keys) is not native to Tallahassee and will likely freeze during the first winter. A redbud from Virginia may grow slowly and may fail to bloom near Tampa which is near the extreme southern limit of the native range of redbud.

Use water appropriately. Almost all newly transplanted plants need extra water. Check out and use xeriscape principles to get the "right plant in the right place."

Some FNPS Favorites

  • South Florida   Emphasis is on plants appropriate to USDA zones 10B and 11. The list is in the form of an Acrobat (pdf) file and designed to be printed on 8.5 x 11 paper.
  • Southwest Florida   Emphasis is on plants appropriate to the northern part of USDA zone 10A and southern part of USDA zone 9B, especially the Tampa Bay area. List compiled by the Suncoast Chapter. Note: the list is in the form of an Acrobat (pdf) file and is designed to be printed on legal-sized (8.5 x 14") paper.
  • Northeast Florida    Emphasis is on plants appropriate to coastal areas, especially the Volusia County area. List compiled by the PawPaw Chapter.

    • Useful Books

  • Beriault, J.G. Planning and Planting A Native Plant Yard. 24 pages. How to turn an entire yard into a native habitat. The Florida Native Plant Society helped support publication of this book.
  • Haehle, R.G. and J. Brookwell. 1999. Native Florida Plants. Low-Maintenance Landscaping and Gardening. Gulf Publishing.
  • Huegel, C. Butterfly Gardening with Florida's Native Plants; 40 pages. How to design and plant a garden to attract butterflies. The Florida Native Plant Society helped support publication of this book.
  • Osorio,R. 2001. A gardener's Guide to Florida Native Plants. University Press of Florida. The Florida Native Plant Society helped support publication of this book.
  • Suncoast Native Plant Society. The Right Plants for Dry Places. Great Outdoors. Order from the Suncoast Chapter.
  • Wasowski, S. 1994. Gardening with Native Plants of the South. Taylor Publishing Company. Most applicable to north Florida.
    • Links
  • Association of Florida Native Nurseries Growers and sellers of Florida native plants and associated serivces.
  • Audubon at Home Planting a wildlife friendly yard.
  • Carnivorous Plants An international organization devoted to the growing and conservation of carnivorous plants.
  • Common Wildflowers to Grow in North Florida A University of Florida Cooperative Extention Service circular by FNPS member, Jeff Norcini
  • Designing the Natural Garden Reprint of a Palmetto article by Richard Devine. The article discusses site analysis, planning, and landscape design for a natural yard, and presents illustrative diagrams for the various steps in the process.
  • Firebush, South Florida's Plant for All Seasons A Palmetto article by Elizabeth Smith.
  • Florida Climatic Center
  • Florida Landscape A great site about landscaping with Florida natives and designing landscapes for wildlife. This site is particularly apt for South Florida. By John Sibley and larry Richardson.
  • Florida Landscape This is a diverse native plant landscaping site sponsored by Florida Gulf Coast University.
  • Florida Master Naturalist Program
  • Florida Wildflower Foundation The Florida Wildflower Foundation was established in 2001 as a 501(c) (3) charitable corporation for the purpose of restoring native wildflowers and grasses in Florida. To accomplish this purpose, the Foundation supports and funds educational, research and planting grants throughout the state.
  • Foraging for Pine Needles Reprint of a Palmetto article by Ken Albritton on gathering of pine mulch.
  • Garden Web A general gardening site.
  • Green Industries Best Management Practices This is focused on grass! You may glean something useful from here, but be aware that it is written from the perspective of the turf industry.
  • Growing Native An e-mail discussion about Florida natives. Some interesting and relevant topics come up.
  • Institute for Regional Conservation Dedicated to research and conservation of the ecosystems of South Florida.
  • It's Seed Harvest Time A Palmetto article by Joe Durando.
  • Native American Seed Company This is a Texas company, and mixed wildlflower seed packages will have many species not native to Florida.
  • Native Trees for North Florida A University of Florida Cooperative Extention Service circular by Meerow and Norcini
  • Native Trees for South Florida A University of Florida Cooperative Extention Service circular by Meerow, Donselman, and Broschat
  • Palm and Cycad Society of Florida
  • Sand - That Wonderful Stuff Reprint of William Simmonds Palmetto article on Florida sand soils.
  • Seeds of Texas Exchange
  • Selby Gardens Located in Sarasota and known for its orchid collection but with resources for learning about Florida's native plants. A new feature is a key to woody plants on Lido Key.
  • Wild Ones Native plant landscaping advocates.