The WFSU Ecology Blog
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Tate’s Hell & the Apalachicola River Delta |...
Kayak Scouting Mission on the Ochlockonee Water Trail
Merritt’s Mill Pond | Kayaking and Spring Caves

The WFSU Ecology Blog

  • Home
    • About
    • EcoAdventures
      • Kayak and Canoe Adventures
      • Hiking
      • Wildlife Watching
    • Observations From the Field
      • White Pelicans Visit Dr. Charles L. Evans Pond in Tallahassee
      • An April Walk at Ochlockonee River WMA
      • Nesting Raptors at Honeymoon Island State Park
    • WFSU Public Media Home
  • Documentaries
    • In Their Words: Black Legacy Communities in North Florida
    • EcoCitizen Show | Seasons in South Tallahassee
    • Red Wolf Family Celebrates First Year at the Tallahassee Museum
    • Roaming the Red Hills
    • Oyster Doctors
    • Testing the Ecology of Fear
    • EcoShakespeare
    • Stories from the Apalachicola
    • Classic WFSU Ecology Documentaries
  • Habitats
    • Estuaries
      • Oyster Reef
        • The Effects of Predators and Fear on Oyster Reefs
        • Apalachicola Oyster Research
        • Animal Species in a North Florida Intertidal Oyster Reef
        • Oyster Reef Ecology | On the Reef
      • Salt Marsh
        • In the Grass- Salt Marsh Biodiversity Study
        • Plants and Animals of a North Florida Salt Marsh
        • Salt Marsh Ecology | In the Grass
      • Seagrass Bed
        • Predatory Snails, and Prey, of the Bay Mouth Bar Seagrass Beds
      • In the Grass, On the Reef Glossary
    • Waterways Big and Small
      • Aucilla/ Wacissa Watershed
      • Apalachicola Basin
        • Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines | Virtual Field Trip
        • The Age of Nature Screening & Discussion | The Future of the Apalachicola
        • Apalachicola River and Bay
        • Apalachicola RiverTrek | Kayaking, Camping, & Hiking the River Basin
    • Longleaf Pine & Fire Ecology
  • Backyard Habitat
    • Backyard Blog
      • My Year in Bugs: the 2022 Backyard Blog
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    • Backyard Flora and Fauna
      • Bees of North Florida and South Georgia
      • The Seasonality of Bees (and Bee Plants) in North Florida
      • Woody Vines of North Florida
      • Flies of North Florida are More Diverse than You’d Think
      • The Case for Weeds, Our Unsung Florida Native Plants
      • Devil’s Walkingstick: Your New Favorite Thorny Pollinator Plant?
      • Florida Native Milkweed | Tips for Growing Your Monarch Friendly Garden
      • Mistletoe | A Parasite for the Holidays (But Maybe We Like it Anyway?)
    • Florida Friendly Seasonal Planting Guide
    • Pollinator and Gardening Posts
    • Gardening Web Resources

Florida Friendly Seasonal Planting Guide

by Nick Carlson April 2, 2019
Florida Friendly Seasonal Planting Guide

One of the pillars of our EcoCitizen Project is creating or enhancing our home habitats.  The plants we choose determine the birds and pollinating insects we see in our yards. With that in mind, the Leon County IFAS Extension has created a series of infographics on plants you can plant throughout the year.

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) offers a wealth of resources centered on their nine principles for creating a Florida Friendly Yard.

The plants spotlighted below are a combination of Florida natives and non-native plants that benefit native animals.  For instance, fennel and dill are not native, but host black swallowtail butterfly caterpillars. Thank you to Rachel Mathes, Horticulture Program Assistant at Leon County IFAS, for creating these attractive, informative graphics.

January

Live Oak (Quercus virginiana)
Soft Caress Mahonia (Mahonia eurybracteata), a plant you can plant in January.
Live Oak (Quercus virginiana)

A classic Floridian icon, live oak does well in well-watered soil and grows to be tough, hardy tree. Insects, birds, and mammals will benefit from its acorns and its sheltering hollows and branches.

Check out our in depth, two part look at live oaks in Tallahassee.

Mahonia (Mahonia bealei)

Mahonia thrives in dry, shady conditions and is an important resource for many animals despite its rugged appearance. In the winter, its flowers provide opportunities for pollinators; in summer, its fruit provides nutrition for birds.

February

Dill (Antheum graveolens)
Red Buckeye (Aesculus pavia)
Dill (Antheum graveolens)

A sun-loving plant, dill is enjoyed by many animals big and small, from pollinating insects to humans. Black swallowtail caterpillars flourish on dill plants, and it also serves as a complement for culinary herbs and garnish.

Red Buckeye (Aesculus pavia)

Small by tree standards, but the red buckeye is nonetheless an attractive addition to any garden. Its brightly colored flowers also attract hummingbirds. Plant in winter or early spring in partial sun.

March

Bee Balm (Monarda punctata)
Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)
Bee Balm (Monarda punctata)

Bee balm- aka dotted horsemint- is great for attracting diverse pollinators, such as bees, solitary wasps, and hummingbirds. It enjoys partial sun and moist soil and flowers in the late summer.  Check out bee balm in action at the Cherokee Lake Pollinator Garden.

Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)

With its intricate purple flowers, anise hyssop serves as a great balance between attractiveness and durability. It requires full sun, but it tolerates dry soil and is resistant to drought when established.

April

Canna (Canna spp.)
Blue Flag Iris (Iris virginica)
Buterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa), a Florida native flower you can plant in April.
Canna (Canna spp.)

Canna is a viable source of nectar for butterflies and food for birds. It also hosts the Brazilian skipper butterfly’s larvae. Canna thrives best in moist soil under full sun.

Blue Flag Iris (Iris virginica)

In the wild, blue flag iris grows along the saturated shorelines of ponds and small streams. In your backyard, it thrives best in rain gardens, and partial sun areas as long as they are regularly watered. Great for attracting bees and hummingbirds.

Milkweed/Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa)

Butterfly weed is a hardy plant that can tolerate dry spells and partial shade. Its fiery flowers are magnetic to pollinating insects. Milkweed is also the only plant monarch butterflies will lay their eggs on.

For more information about raising native varieties of milkweed, visit this post from 2019.

May

Salvia (Salvia spp.)
Stoke’s Aster (Stokesia laevis)
Salvia (Salvia spp.)

Salvia comes in a vast array of different colors, and some will bloom year-round barring a severe freeze. It serves well in attracting pollinators, and birds will enjoy its seeds and nectar.

Stoke’s Aster (Stokesia laevis)

Despite its striking appearance, Stoke’s aster is low-maintenance and thrives in partial sun. It is also eye-popping to all sorts of pollinators.

June

Pineapple Sage (Salvia elegans)
African Blue Basil (O. Kilimandscharicum x basilicum)
Pineapple Sage (Salvia elegans)

Pineapple sage serves pollinators and seed-eating birds, and it also has a dazzling look and delectable fruity smell. It does best in light shade and can tolerate substandard soil and drought.

African Blue Basil (O. Kilimandscharicum x basilicum)

It requires full sun and well-drained, amended soil, but African blue basil is a rewarding plant that grows in clusters called “mounds.” Although it is not a culinary basil, bees, butterflies and hummingbirds will find it appealing and beneficial.

July

Pentas (Pentas lanceolata)
Purslane (Portulaca grandiflora)

Pentas (Pentas lanceolata)

Florida’s summers can be brutal for most plants, but pentas are a diverse and hardy addition for your garden. With red, white, and pink varieties, they will also catch the attention of pollinators.

Purslane (Portulaca grandiflora)

Purslane is an attractive addition to rock gardens as well as typical gardens. They thrive in sunny, well-drained soil and can easily tolerate the heat of the summer. They are also a great source of food for birds and native pollinators.

August

Rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis)
Buckwheat (Fagropyrum esculentum)

Rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis)

In colder months, rosemary comes through in providing nectar to bees and other pollinators. Easy to grow and hardy, it also adds a savory kick to your culinary endeavors.

Buckwheat (Fagropyrum esculentum)

Buckwheat serves a unique purpose as a guard for vegetables, especially zucchini. It can lower the numbers of aphids and other pest insects, and it also attracts wasps that prey on pests.

September

Firespike (Odontonema cuspidatum)
Goldenrod (Solidago spp.)

Firespike (Odontonema cuspidatum)

Firespike provides ample nectar for pollinators, and it it also a hardy and dazzling plant for your garden. It requires full sun, but firespike will also tolerate a wide variety of soils, of all acidities and compositions.

Goldenrod (Solidago spp.)

In the late summer and early fall, goldenrod adds an appealing yellow kick to your garden. Honeybees pollinate it, butterflies lay their eggs on it, and its seeds will feed birds year round.

October

Fatsia (Fatsia japonica)
Coreopsis (Coreopsis spp.)
Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)

Fatsia (Fatsia japonica)

Fatsia thrives in moist, shady areas, flowers throughout the winter, and can grow to be eight feet tall. Its long-lasting flowers attract honeybees in the winter when most other plants lie dormant.

Coreopsis (Coreopsis spp.)

A common sight around Florida (and its state wildflower), coreopsis serves as an important source of nectar for pollinators and also feeds deer and gopher tortoises. It requires full sun and it is drought tolerant once established.

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)

Attractive and prolific, fennel is also beneficial to all sorts of pollinating insects. Black swallowtail butterflies especially enjoy fennel as a host plant to lay their eggs on.

November

Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica)
Calendula (Calendula officinalis)

Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica)

Loquat is a fast-growing evergreen tree that thrives in both sun and shade. Its fall flowers provide nectar for butterflies and bees, and its winter fruit is delectable on its own or in all sorts of recipes.

Calendula (Calendula officinalis)

The dazzlingly-colored calendula thrives best in full sun and is a great addition to containers and beds. Butterflies and moths of all species will find the calendula a perfect place to lay their eggs.

December

Citrus (Citrus x)
American Holly (Ilex opaca), a tree/ shrub you can plant in December.

American Holly (Ilex spp.)

American holly is diverse, hardy, and efficient for all sorts of purposes, such as landscaping and ornamentals. It can tolerate both full sun and partial shade. Its signature red berries are an important food source for birds in the winter, in particular, cedar waxwings.  Indigenous Floridians used holly berries to make their ceremonial black drink.

Citrus (Citrus x)

Another botanical Florida icon, citrus plants are diverse and beneficial to both pollinators and your palette. Their flowering in the winter means pollinators will rely on them when other plants lie dormant. Citrus plants will also host giant swallowtail caterpillars.

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Close up of monarch proboscis sipping nectar from Brickellia flower.

Dig Deeper into Backyard Ecology

What can we do to invite butterflies, birds, and other wildlife into our yards? And what about the flora and fauna that makes its way into our yards; the weeds, insects, and other critters that create the home ecosystem? WFSU Ecology Blog takes a closer look.

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iNaturalist became a part of the WFSU Ecology Blog during the EcoCitizen Project in 2019.  Since then, we’ve used it to help identify the many plants and animals we see on our shoots.  And on the Backyard Blog, we show how it can be used to identify weeds and garden insects, to help figure out what’s beneficial or a possible pest.  Below is the iNaturalist profile belonging to WFSU Ecology producer Rob Diaz de Villegas.

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