Deltona Regional Public Library Native Plant Garden

Deltona Regional Library in Volusia County expanded its existing native landscaping and pollinator gardens with a 400-square-foot planting in the highly visible center circle at the library entrance. This garden builds on strong partnerships with Lyonia Garden Keeper Volunteers, Lyonia Environmental Center staff, West Volusia Audubon members and the Florida Native Plant Society. Featuring native turf alternatives alongside meadow-style wildflowers, the garden will serve as a demonstration site for sustainable landscaping practices while enhancing the library’s entrance and engaging the community in the value of native plants.

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.

A curved sidewalk borders a dry, brown grassy area with scattered trees; several cars are parked in the background under a clear blue sky. — Deltona Regional Public Library

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

The following native species were planted:

Florida paintbrush

Florida paintbrush (Carphephorus corymbosus) blooms from mid-summer into fall, attracting butterflies and other pollinators. It occurs naturally in sandhills, pine flatwoods, scrubby flatwoods, mesic flatwoods and ruderal areas.

Purple coneflower

Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) has striking blooms that attract a variety of butterflies, bees and even hummingbirds. Its seeds are eaten by birds and other wildlife.

Elliott’s lovegrass

Elliott’s lovegrass (Eragrostis elliottii) is a perennial bunchgrass with an abundance of delicate flowers that cover the plant in a billowy beige haze.

Prairie coneflower

While Prairie coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) is most common in the prairies and limestone glades of the midwestern US, its southernmost range dips into Florida’s Panhandle.

Black-eyed Susan

Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) typically blooms in spring through fall. It is pollinated by a variety of insects, and its seeds are eaten by seed-eating birds.

Dense gayfeather

Dense gayfeather (Liatris spicata ) has striking spikes of purple flowers that bloom late summer through fall and are excellent attractors of butterflies, bees and other beneficial insects.

Sunshine mimosa

Sunshine mimosa (Mimosa strigillosa) has showy “powderpuff” flowers that bloom spring through summer, attracting mostly bees. The plant is a larval host for the Little sulphur butterfly.

Manyflower beardtongue

Manyflower beardtongue (Penstemon multiflorus) occurs naturally in scrub, sandhills and scrubby flatwoods. It has many showy white flowers that attract a number of pollinators, including hummingbirds.

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.

Helmet skullcap

Helmet skullcap (Scutellaria integrifolia) typically blooms in late spring and summer, attracting a wide range of bees, including leafcutter, cuckoo and bumble bees.

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.

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:

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Deltona Regional Public Library Native Plant Garden

Florida paintbrush

Purple coneflower

Elliott’s lovegrass

Prairie coneflower

Black-eyed Susan

Dense gayfeather

Sunshine mimosa

Manyflower beardtongue

Frogfruit

Helmet skullcap

Stokes’ aster

POLLINATORS NEED YOUR HELP!