Bay County Public Library Native Plant Garden

Bay County Public Library in Panama City was selected to establish a Seeds of Knowledge Library Demonstration Garden in spring 2025. The garden, located at the library entrance, serves nearly 150,000 visitors each year as a resource for environmental education and post-Hurricane Michael landscape restoration. Planting was completed by Sandhills Native Nursery. Ongoing care is provided by volunteers from the Sweetbay Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society, the UF/IFAS Bay County Extension, and Florida Master Gardener Volunteers.

DID YOU KNOW? Florida native plants are adapted to thrive in our climate, conditions and soil. They need less water than other plants, and require no fertilizers, pesticides or other chemicals. This saves precious water resources and keeps excess nutrients from polluting lakes, rivers and streams.

Green plants with small yellow flowers and a few red flowers grow in a mulched garden bed against a beige wall; a small informational sign is placed in the soil. — Bay County Public Library

The garden was made possible by a grant from the Florida Wildflower Foundation.

The following native species were planted:

False rosemary

False rosemary (Conradina canescens) occurs naturally in sand pine scrub and sandhills. Many pollinator species are attracted to false rosemary, but bees are the most prominent visitor.

Lanceleaf tickseed

Lanceleaf tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolata ) has conspicuously sunny flowers that typically bloom in spring. It attracts butterflies and other pollinators, and its seeds are eaten by birds and small wildlife.

Purple lovegrass

Purple lovegrass (Eragrostis spectabilis) is a perennial bunchgrass with an abundance of delicate flowers that cover the plant in a billowy purple haze.

Button rattlesnakemaster

Button rattlesnakemaster (Eryngium yuccifolium ) is a peculiar perennial wildflower that occurs in flatwoods, sandhills, savannas and marshes throughout Florida. It blooms in late spring through fall.

Dune sunflower

Dune sunflower (Helianthus debilis) occurs naturally along the coast. Its bright flowers attract a variety of pollinators, its dense growth pattern provides cover for many small animals and birds enjoy…

St. Andrew’s cross

St. Andrew’s cross Hypericum St. Andrew’s cross ( Hypericum hypericoides) is found in wet pine flatwoods, calcareous hammocks, floodplain forests and mixed woodlands throughout Florida. Bees and butterflies love its…

Coral honeysuckle

Coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) flowers are attractive to many butterflies, and hummingbirds find them irresistible. Birds such as Northern cardinals enjoy the bright red berries.

Snow squarestem

Also known as Cat’s tongue, Salt and pepper and Nonpareil, Snow squarestem (Melanthera nivea) typically blooms summer through early winter, but can bloom year-round, attracting bees, butterflies and other pollinators.

Frogfruit

Frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora) is both a versatile and vital wildflower. This evergreen perennial is low-growing and creeping, often forming dense mats of green foliage.

Narrowleaf silkgrass

Narrowleaf silkgrass (Pityopsis graminifolia) blooms late summer through early winter in sandhill, flatwoods and scrub habitats throughout the state. It has brilliant yellow flowers and silvery leaves.

Cutleaf coneflower

Cutleaf coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata) is a summer-blooming wildflower that occurs naturally in mesic hammocks and meadows, on stream banks and in wet roadside ditches in North Florida.

Tropical sage

Tropical sage (Salvia coccinea) is a versatile perennial wildflower that no pollinator can resist, but it is particularly attractive to bees, large butterflies and hummingbirds.

Blue-eyed grass

The low profile of Blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) makes it an excellent groundcover choice. It is fairly adaptable to a variety of conditions.

Stokes’ aster

Stokes’ aster (Stokesia laevis) typically blooms in spring and summer, but may bloom throughout the year, attracting a variety of bees, wasps and butterflies.

Starry rosinweed

Starry rosinweed (Silphium asteriscus) is a robust perennial with showy yellow blooms. It occurs naturally in flatwoods, sandy pinelands and disturbed areas and attracts a variety of pollinators.

Wild petunia

Wild petunia (Ruellia caroliniensis) typically blooms late spring through early fall, attracting a variety of pollinators. It is also a host plant for the White peacock butterfly.

Georgia calamint (Calaminthia georgiana)

Woody goldenrod (Chrysoma pauciflosculosa)

POLLINATORS NEED YOUR HELP!

Help Florida’s wildlife and environment by using native wildflowers and plants in your landscape. Click here to learn more information on planting, selecting and maintaining native plants, or check out these resources: