Town of Melbourne Beach Native Garden
Welcome to our Native Wildflower Demonstration Garden made possible through the Florida Wildflower Foundation and countless volunteers. The garden was created to provide habitat to wildlife, to demonstrate the ease, diversity and beauty of Florida native wildflowers, and to provide a beautiful oasis for all visitors to enjoy.
We hope you enjoy learning more about the following Florida native wildflower species and possibly be inspired to create a habitat oasis all your own! Thank you for visiting.
The garden is located at the Old Town Hall History Center, 2373 Oak St., Melbourne Beach, FL 32951 (MAP).
American beautyberry
American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) is a woody shrub found in pinelands and hammocks throughout Florida. The plant’s foliage offers cover for small wildlife. Its flowers are a nectar source for…
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…
Cocoplum
Cocoplum (Chrysobalanus icaco) produces flowers and fruits throughout the year. Its dense foliage and substantial fruit provide cover and food for many birds and small wildlife.
Leavenworth’s tickseed
Leavenworth’s tickseed (Coreopsis leavenworthii) is often used as a component of mixed wildflower and butterfly gardens, and is excellent for sunny roadsides, highway medians and powerline easements.
Beach creeper
Beach creeper (Ernodea littoralis) is an evergreen low-growing, mat-forming shrub found on dunes, beaches and coastal hammock edges throughout Central and South Florida.
Pineland heliotrope
Don’t forget Pineland heliotrope (Euploca polyphylla) if you’re looking for year-round blooms! This member of the forget-me-not family is a Florida endemic and is adaptable to a variety of conditions…
Narrowleaf yellowtops
Narrowleaf yellowtops (Flaveria linerias) produces many bright yellow flowers that are attractive to a plethora of butterflies, bees and flower beetles.
Coastal mock vervain
Coastal mock vervain (Glandularia maritima) is a state-listed endangered wildflower endemic to Florida’s east coast. It blooms year-round, although the most prolific flowering occurs in spring and summer.
Firebush
Firebush (Hamelia patens var. patens) is a hardy, fast-growing and showy evergreen shrub to small tree. It produces clusters of bright orange to red tubular flowers that are filled with…
Southeastern sneezeweed
Southeastern sneezeweed (Helenium pinnatifidum) is a sunny spring bloomer. It occurs naturally in wet flatwoods and roadside ditches, and along marsh and swamp edges throughout Florida.
Dune sunflower
Dune (or beach) sunflower (Helianthus debilis) typically flowers in summer, but may bloom year-round. Its bright yellow flowers attract a variety of pollinators, including butterflies, moths and bees.
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.
Sea lavender
Sea lavender (Heliotropium gnaphalodes) is an evergreen shrub found in dunes and thickets on the Atlantic coast of Central and South Florida. Its small but showy flowers emit a subtly…
Buttonsage
Buttonsage (Lantana involucrata) occurs naturally along coastal strands, dunes, hammocks, and pinelands in coastal counties from Pinellas and Brevard south to Monroe and into the Keys.
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.
Spotted beebalm
Also known as Dotted horsemint, 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…
Muhlygrass
Nothing says fall in Florida like the purple haze of Hairyawn muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris) in bloom. When planted en masse, this perennial bunchgrass puts on a spectacular fall display.
Florida Keys blackbead
Florida Keys blackbead is a lovely tropical shrub common to coastal hammocks in Southeast Florida. Its beautiful blooms and wildlife value make it a great addition to the home landscape…
Wild coffee
Wild coffee (Psychotria nervosa) flowers typically bloom in spring and summer, but may bloom year-round. They are attractive to a variety of pollinators, especially Atala and Schaus’ swallowtail butterflies.
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.
Chapman’s wild sensitive plant
Chapman’s wild sensitive plant (Senna mexicana var. chapmanii) is a state-listed threatened species. Its many flowers are visited by a variety of native bees and butterflies. All members of the…
Starry rosinweed
Starry rosinweed (Silphium asteriscus) is a robust perennial with showy yellow blooms. It is typically found in pine flatwoods, sandhills, open woodlands, mixed upland forests and disturbed or ruderal areas.
Seaside goldenrod
The conspicuous golden blooms of Seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens) are found on dunes, in tidal marshes, bogs and sandy flatwoods, along roadsides and in disturbed areas in Florida’s coastal counties…
Yellow necklacepod
Yellow necklacepod ( Sophora tomentosa var. truncata) is a long-lived flowering shrub that occurs naturally in coastal strands, hammocks and dunes throughout Central and South Florida.
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.
Spiderwort
Spiderwort (Tradescantia spp.) flowers attract many pollinators, especially bees. Like all species in the dayflower family, the flowers are ephemeral, meaning they stay open only one day.
Forked bluecurls
Forked bluecurls (Trichostema dichotomum) has dainty yet distinctive bluish-purple flowers. They are short-lived, opening only in the morning, but individual plants may produce thousands of flowers throughout a season.
Beach tea
Beach tea (Croton punctatus) is a rare low-growing herbaceous shrub found in coastal uplands. Its small white flowers bloom year round.