Fort White Branch Library Native Plant Garden
The Fort White Branch Library in Columbia County was selected to pilot the Seeds of Knowledge Library Demonstration Garden Grant in spring 2025. The library expanded its existing community garden into a 3,300 sq. ft. Florida native plant demonstration garden. Volunteers from the Columbia Seed Library and the Four Rivers Audubon Society maintain the space, where walkways and patios create a welcoming community gathering place surrounded by the beauty of Florida’s 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.
The garden was made possible by a grant from the Florida Wildflower Foundation.
The following native species were planted:
Red buckeye
Red buckeye (Aesculus pavia) is a deciduous understory shrub or small tree with showy clusters of red, tubular flowers that appear in late winter through spring.
Butterflyweed
Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) is a perennial that produces large, showy clusters of bright orange to reddish flowers from spring through fall. It occurs naturally in sandhills, pine flatwoods, and…
White wild indigo
White wild indigo (Baptisia alba) has showy white blooms that attract many pollinators. The plant is a larval host plant for the Wild indigo duskywing and Zarucco duskywing butterflies.
Florida greeneyes
Florida greeneyes (Berlandiera subacaulis) is an endemic wildflower found in Florida’s sandhills, pine flatwoods, mixed upland forests, and along dry roadsides. Their bright yellow flowers bloom in spring, attracting a…
Woodland poppymallow
Woodland poppymallow (Callirhoe papaver) is one of Florida’s most unique native wildflowers, with cup-like crimson blooms that resemble a challis of red wine. The flowers attract a variety of bees,…
Eastern redbud
Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis) typically flowers in March, at which time the entire crown of the tree will become covered in deep pink blooms.
Partridge pea
Partridge pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata) is a larval host for several butterflies, including the Gray hairstreak and Cloudless sulphur. The plant is also used by bees, ants, flies, wasps, birds and…
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.
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.
Pineland heliotrope
Consider Pineland heliotrope (Euploca polyphylla) if you’re looking for year-round blooms! This Florida endemic wildflower is adaptable to a variety of conditions. Its small white or yellow flowers attract many…
Narrowleaf yellowtops
Narrowleaf yellowtops (Flaveria linearis) blooms in late summer through fall, producing many bright yellow flowers that are attractive to a plethora of butterflies, bees and flower beetles.
Garberia
Garberia (Garberia heterophylla) is endemic to Florida’s north and central peninsula and is a state-listed threatened species. It is an excellent nectar source for many butterflies and bees.
Rayless sunflower
Rayless sunflower (Helianthus radula) is a unique member of the Helianthus genus—its ray florets are almost entirely absent. It blooms late spring through fall and attracts a variety of pollinators.
Scorpionstail
Scorpionstail ( Heliotropium angiospermum) is a shrub-like plant with unique white flowers that bloom year-round. Its nectar attracts a variety of butterflies including the Miami blue and Schaus’ swallowtail.
Atlantic St. John’s wort
Atlantic St. John’s wort (Hypericum tenuifolium) occurs in scrub, pine flatwoods, sandhills and coastal swales. Its many golden flowers bloom in the summer, attracting a host of native bees and…
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.
Southern magnolia
Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) is a majestic and iconic evergreen tree found in mesic hammocks and slope forests. It is renowned for its showy fragrant flowers, dramatic dark green leaves,…
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.
Spotted beebalm
Spotted beebalm (Monarda punctata) is a robust, aromatic wildflower known to attract a huge variety of pollinating insects, including bees, wasps and butterflies. It blooms from early summer through fall.
Muhlygrass
Nothing says fall in Florida like the purple haze of Muhlygrass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) in bloom. When planted en masse, this perennial bunchgrass puts on a spectacular fall display.
Simpson’s stopper
Simpson’s stopper (Myrcianthes fragrans) has year-round blooms that attract a variety of butterflies and bees; its fruit provides food for many bird species.
Purple passionflower
Purple passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) has extraordinarily intricate purple-and-white-fringed flowers. The plant is the larval host plant of several butterflies including the Gulf fritillary and Zebra longwing.
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.
Softhair coneflower
Softhair coneflower (Rudbeckia mollis) is a robust plant with bright yellow blooms that provide spring and summer color to sandhills, dry open hammocks and roadsides in North and Central Florida.
Privet senna
Privet senna (Senna ligustrina ) occurs naturally in hammocks and disturbed areas. Its flowers are mainly bee-pollinated, but the plant is a larval host for the Cloudless sulphur and Sleepy…
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.
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.
Seaside goldenrod
Seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens ) blooms in showy masses on dunes, in swales and brackish marshes, on sandy soils in coastal areas, and occasionally inland throughout the state.
Blue porterweed
Blue porterweed (Stachytarpheta jamaicensis) is an excellent addition to a butterfly garden: It is a host plant for the Tropical buckeye and a nectar source for many other butterfly species.
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.
Georgia aster
Georgia aster (Symphyotrichum georgianum) is a magnet for bees and butterflies. Its flowers are distinguishable from other Symphyotrichum species by their relatively large size and deep violet-colored ray petals.
Darrow’s blueberry
Darrow’s blueberry (Vaccinium darrowii) is a small shrub that is underappreciated as a landscape plant. Its profuse spring blooms attract many pollinators and the sweet summer berries are attractive to…
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:
- 20 Easy-to-Grow Wildflowers
- Guide for Choosing Native Plants
- Attracting Birds with Florida Native Wildflowers
- Attracting Bees and Other Beneficial Insects with Florida Native Wildflowers
- Attracting Butterflies with Florida Native Wildflowers
- Great Wildflowers for Dry Landscapes
- Great Wildflowers for Shade
- Aquatic Wildflowers for Pollinators
- Create a Pollinator Pot