Informal shady semi-shady gardens.

Wildflower garden.

Use along streams or edges of retention areas. Can be a screen or specimen tree in moist areas. Blooms better in moderate to high light settings.

This is one of Florida's most showy and most under-appreciated wildflowers. Look for it along disturbed roadsides in mid-late winter and early spring. This is a personal favorite of one of the authors -- it grows and bloom early and attracts lots of insects.  The only issue is the prickles, so I wear gloves when weeding around it.  It reseeds readily so long as there is good sun and  bare ground where the seeds land. Don't let the name fool you, this is a Florida native. Wildflower garden. Roadside wildflower areas. This plant blooms from late winter into spring displaying its large flowers when little else is blooming in the garden.

Groundcover in moist areas. Can be mowed.

Flowers tend to appear in spring or after a significant rainfall. Otherwise inconspicuous. Small wildflower or plant in with other low groundcovers. Foliage is very fine and the plant is inconspicuous except when in bloom.

Benefits from controlled burns. There are contradictions in herbarium databases, and reliable observations in counties where there are no herbarium specimens. Probably native in low abundance in dry (xeric) native grasslands and open pinelands throughout the state. Makes a colorful contribution to a native plant meadow. Becomes darker (more purple) after pollination. When flowering, the stem needs support from surrounding plants. It is primarily a fall bloomer.

This  little plant produces two flowers with ovaries that fuse into a single fruit. Typically grown as a curiosity. This is a very small plant that acts as a groundcover with the caveat that the plants are very small. Keep it in a natural forested setting or establish in such an area.

Wetland garden including bog gardens. Natural wetland settings.

Wet garden. Rain garden. Shade tree for wet areas and along wetland edges. Leaves turn yellow in fall. Slow growing.

Listed as Endangered by the State of Florida. Please acquire in an environmentally conscientious manner. Retain in the natural landscape if present. Specimen tree or screening plant.

Choose a species that grows naturally in your area. Wildflower garden. Rarely grown, mostly small wildflowers. Plant near the front of the garden so that they will be seen.

This is a protected plant as it is of major importance to the stabilization of beach dunes. Specimen plant. Mass plantings on beach dunes for stabilization. Seed heads useful in dried arrangements.

Natural landscapes including meadows and butterfly gardens.

Coreopsis is the State wildflower. Cultivated flower beds, wildflower gardens, meadows, and butterfly gardens.

Toxic  to humans. and some animals. Specimen plant, foundation planting, screen.

This is a wetland plant. It is rarely grown, but it has potential in appropriate sites. Specimen plant or background screen for wet places.

The range of Prunus serotina includes most of eastern North America as far north as southern Canada.  It extends west into Texas and there are spotty occurrences as far west as Arizona.  In Florida, the range appears to be continuous as far south as the central peninsula after which it disappears, a pattern generally associated with temperature.  This species should grow well down to the central peninsula. Some people consider this to be a weed tree.  This author has it in my "field" where it is thriving and very welcome.  It is an early successional tree, but not a problem plant.  The tree lis an important component of deciduous forests in north Florida and eastern North America. Shade tree. Useful for informal reforestation of old grove land.

The wood is weak. Shade tree. Semi-evergreen with leaves falling just before new leaves emerge.

Listed as Endangered in Florida. Please acquire only from reputable nurseries. The US range is limited to Florida. Globally, it is also found in the West Indies. Accent shrub, screen plant if used as a hedge.

Mass planting or specimen plant in moist areas. Best for informal gardens.