Welcome to the People and Plants Garden at Ellis Acres This ethnobotanical garden showcases Florida’s rich native plant heritage, highlighting species valued both by wildlife and humans for their ecological and cultural significance. Each species in this garden plays an essential role in local ecosystems, offering food, shelter and habitat for pollinators, birds and other…
Whorled milkweed (Asclepias verticillata ) is one of the smaller, more delicate native milkweeds and is easily overlooked when not in bloom. It flowers late spring through summer and into early fall.
Rice button aster (Symphyotrichum dumosum) is a profuse bloomer with small flowers that attract a plethora of pollinators including butterflies and native bees.
Melittidae, or oil-collecting bees, are considered to be one of the most ancient bee families. In fact, the oldest known fossil of any bee is thought to be about 100 million years old, and contains a specimen from this family.
The Eucerini tribe is collectively referred to as the “long-horned bees,” but some genera within this tribe have other common names such as squash bees and sunflower bees.
Southeastern blueberry bees are our most efficient blueberry pollinators, but they are only active for a short period of time in early spring!
Mona Johnston joined the Florida Wildflower Foundation board in September 2023, bringing with her an extensive knowledge and legacy of conserving South Florida’s native wildflowers.
In 2010, Leon County became a pioneer in Florida by adopting a wildflower resolution to preserve native wildflowers on roadsides. They have recently revitalized and expanded the program. Check out the latest update!
A passion for our native wildflowers is fundamental to everything we do — and we’re committed to sharing knowledge that fosters both appreciation and action.
Many wildflowers bloom in the spring. Among them are carnivorous plants, and Florida has many to offer. Read our spring bloom report to learn where to see them.
Many of Florida’s spring native wildflowers have large, showy flowers. But some small common ones may be underappreciated. However, they are quite beautiful when viewed close up.
Narrowleaf sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius) is one of Florida’s most common native sunflowers. In nature, it forms dense colonies, resulting in spectacular swaths of sunshine yellow when in bloom.
