Education

Our publications, events and projects give people the tools and knowledge they need to build and enjoy urban and roadside native wildflower corridors.

Publications

Download or view handouts and brochures that will guide you in building your habitat. Click here to order copies for an event or meeting.

20 Easy-to-Grow Wildflowers

This 24-page magazine features 20 “tried and true” wildflowers that are easy to grow and maintain in home and urban landscapes. Versión en español disponible.

Aquatic wildflowers

Wondering what native wildflowers and plants to use along your pond or wetland edge? Our guide will help you select the appropriate species for any aquatic environment. Versión en español disponible.

Attracting Bees

You can help provide food and habitat for Florida’s native bees and other beneficial insects by landscaping with native wildflowers. Versión en español disponible.

Attracting Birds

Bring birds into your landscape by planting Florida native wildflowers, grasses and shrubs that provide food and habitat. Learn more now. Versión en español disponible.

Attracting Butterflies

You can help provide food and habitat for Florida’s butterflies by landscaping with native wildflowers. Learn more now. Versión en español disponible.

Collecting Seed

One of the easiest methods of supplying new wildflowers for your yard is by growing your own from seed. Collecting seed from your plants is fun, and growing wildflowers from seed is easier than you think. Versión en español disponible.

Create a Pollinator Pot

The insects that pollinate our food crops and natural areas are in steep decline. Our suburban landscapes are more important than ever in supporting them. No place for a garden? No problem! Our new video and handout can help you create a small pollinator oasis in a pot! Versión en español disponible.

Dry Landscapes

Wondering what native wildflowers and plants to use in a dry landscape? Use our new handout to evaluate your landscape’s soil moisture and choose diverse species that will thrive and give your landscape a “real Florida” feel. Versión en español disponible.

Monarchs and Milkweed

Learn about Monarch butterflies and the Florida native milkweed they require as host plants for their caterpillars. The publication features cautions about the use of non-native Tropical milkweed. Versión en español disponible.

Plant selection guide

This guide includes over 120 Florida native wildflowers, shrubs, vines and grasses that work well in home landscapes. It will help you choose plants based on your location, soil and light conditions, color and season of bloom, and pollinator use. Versión en español disponible.

Seeding Dates

Sowing seed at the appropriate time of year is one of the factors critical to successfully establishing a native wildflower/grass planting. Seed must be sown when germination, emergence and subsequent growth will occur quickly enough for wildflowers to fend off competing weed seedlings and for seedlings to tolerate adverse weather conditions. Versión en español disponible.

Shady landscapes

Wondering what native wildflowers and plants to use in a shady landscape? Use our new handout to evaluate your landscape’s light conditions and choose diverse species that will thrive and give your landscape a “real Florida” feel. Versión en español disponible.

Starting from seed

Follow these 12 steps to establish a small landscape planting of native wildflowers. Versión en español disponible.

Upcoming Events

Past Webinars

Propagation trays. Photo provided by Claudia Larsen

WEBINAR — Propagation of Florida Native Wildflowers

In this webinar, Claudia Larsen shares techniques for collecting and propagating Florida wildflower seeds. A grower for more than 30 years, Claudia uses proven horticulture practices and other methods learned through years of personal experience. If you’ve always wanted to grow but don’t know how, you won’t want to miss this webinar.
Goldenrod (Solidago sp.) by Tina McIntyre

WEBINAR — Native Plants to Attract Wildlife

Tina McIntyre with Seminole UF/IFAS teaches you how to choose native host plants, flowering and fruiting shrubs and trees, and other key elements, so you can enjoy birds, bees and butterflies in your yard year-round!
Dr Deah Lieurance with invasive Coral Ardisia (Ardisia crenata)

WEBINAR — Invasive Species: Pathways, Process, Impacts and Prevention

Dr. Deah Lieurance walks you through the steps a non-native species takes towards becoming an invasive species, including the pathways for arrival, what facilitates establishment and spread of the species, and a range of negative impacts to the environment, economy and to human health.
Beebalm (Monarda punctata) dessert. Photo by Betsy Harris.

WEBINAR — I Eat Flowers (and Other Things)

In this webinar, naturalist and forager Betsy Harris guides us through a year of seasonal eating, featuring edible native plants and wildflowers as inspiration for incorporating wild foods into our everyday diets.
Poey’s furrow (Halictus poeyi) bee and Metallic green sweat bee drinking nectar from Solidago sempervirens. Photo by Laura Langlois Zurro.

Webinar: Florida’s Native Bees in Winter

Laura Langlois Zurro, founder of the Florida Native Bees Facebook group, takes us on a photographic journey of some of the bees that can be observed in Florida between November and March, as well as the plants they need to survive.
Zebra swallowtail (Eurytides marcellus). Photo provided by Anita Camacho.

Webinar: Butterflies of Florida

Anita Camacho, owner of Little Red Wagon Native Nursery and president of Tampa Bay Butterfly Foundation, Inc teaches us how we can make a difference for butterflies in our home landscape.
Stacey's home landscape

Webinar: A Beginner’s Guide to Creating Habitat in Your Home Landscape

Executive Director Stacey Matrazzo shares her journey of transforming her home landscape into a native garden and highlights some of Florida’s tried-and-true, easy-to-grow native plants. Learn how easy it is to beautify your landscape with natives and transform it into a living ecosystem with “real Florida” style.
Yellow pitcherplants

Webinar: Florida’s Carnivorous Plants

Florida is home to more native carnivorous plants than any other U.S. state. Kenny Coogan, author of “Florida’s Carnivorous Plants: Understanding, Identifying, and Cultivating the State’s Native Species” teaches us about these natives with their unusual adaptations.
Sematura luna (Brazilian Swallowtail Moth)

Webinar: Moths – Amazing Insects

Often an afterthought, with more than 150,000 known species worldwide, moths are essential to the natural world. Akito Kawahara, University of Florida professor and Florida Museum of Natural History curator, speaks about local moths of Florida, and more!

Field trips

Biologist Liz Ramirez and Jeff Weber at the 2021 Ocala field trip. Photo provided by Jeff Weber.

Field trip: 2022 Christmas tree cutting

Join the Florida Wildflower Foundation on Dec. 3 for our annual Christmas tree cutting event. A Forest Service biologist will introduce us to the Ocala National Forest and the incredible habitats being managed and restored there. Find out how the Forest Service balances providing resources to the public and conservation of these critical lands. Then we’ll caravan to the Christmas tree cutting site, where everyone with a permit will have the opportunity to pick out and cut down their very own fresh-from-Florida sand pine.

Classroom resources

The Florida Wildflower Foundations’ Wild About Wildflowers! activity guide encourages students to learn about native wildflowers and their place in the environment through fun, engaging activities.

This rich, versatile resource will help students achieve a variety of Florida educational standards in math, science and language. When presented from start to finish, the guide gives students a comprehensive introduction to wildflowers, as well as to flowers in general.

Request a speaker

The Florida Wildflower Foundation provides speakers on a variety of topics related to Florida’s native wildflowers, pollinators and sustainable landscaping practices.

Complete our short form to request a speaker for your meeting or event.

Need publications for an upcoming event? Fill out our form to request copies.