In recent years that has been a booming interest in Florida native plants. What’s the attraction? First off they require little maintenance. There’s some TLC when they are first planted, but after that they don’t require fertilizer, no trimming, and very little watering. During a prolonged dry spell you may need to hit them with the garden hose, but that’s about it. And they are also generally cheaper than ornamental landscaping.
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Native plants attract migratory birds, bees and other pollinators, and butterflies. They are an important link in nature’s chain of life.
Brevard landscape architect, Susan Hall, says there is huge interest from her customers in using native plants in both residential and commercial settings. “We’ve had 100% native projects.”
She says a lot of interest is driven by local building codes in some communities that require a certain percentage of natives on a property. For example, the beach town of Indialantic requires commercial properties (including condos and apartments) to have a majority of native plants in their landscaping. “A lot of people don’t know what’s native or not, they just want them,” Hall says
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According to Andreas Daehnick, Director of Horticulture at McKee Botanical Gardens in Vero Beach, more than half the plants at McKee are natives. “It’s important to put the right plant in the right place for them to do well,” he says. Once planted they require little attention. “We don’t go around fertilizing and pruning.”
Sally Scalera is the horticulture agent and master gardener at the University of Florida agriculture branch in Cocoa. She says interest in native plants is booming. “People are concerned about the lagoon,” she observes. Because native plants don’t require fertilizer means they help reduce the amount of phosphates that drain into the lagoon and cause algae blooms.
There are over 3,000 species of native plants in Florida. Some plants prefer the cooler weather of North Florida, others like the hot, balmy sub tropics farther south. Plants that work well in North Florida generally don’t do well on the Space Coast and Treasure Coast.
Scalera says Brevard County is divided into two growing regions. The coastal areas are warmer and friendlier to plants that don’t tolerate the cold, such as Frangipani and Coconut Palms. Areas inland from the beaches are a different region, and are better for plants that can tolerate cooler weather. She repeats the axiom of gardening pros about making sure to put the right plants in the right place.
She says when selecting plants you should consider a number of factors. Are they drought tolerant, do they like full sun or partial shade, what kind of moisture in the soil works best? She calls native plants a “keystone species” and you can visit the university’s website [http://www.nwf.org/NativePlantFinder/] to see the list and get details.
Scalera conducts an eight session Florida Friendly gardening class each spring and native plants are included in the course. If you don’t want or can’t spend that much time, a Master Gardener from the U. of F. Cocoa office will come to your home. They will evaluate your yard and give you planting recommendations for your specific location. The cost is $55.
Tim Harrison and his wife have operated Butterfly & Flowers nursery and landscaping since 2015. They deal exclusively in native plants sales. They have 250 species of natives at their nursery in Palm Bay, and retail store in Melbourne.
Tim says an important consideration before planting is to consider the quality of the soil. He says builders often bring in clay and fill dirt to put around new houses. Not all natives like that kind of soil. That means having to use only certain plants in those areas. Where the original natural Florida sandy soil exists he says all plants do well. “It’s all about putting the right plants in the right places”, he observes, just like other expert gardeners.
One of Harrison’s customers, Viki and Tom Wylder of Palm Bay, have a backyard full of native plants. According to Viki there are 60 species of natives there. They like the way the plants don’t require a lot of attention. “We’re in our 70’s and don’t want a lot of maintenance.” “We also want to help the lagoon by not using fertilizer.”” she says, She says the backyard attracts birds, butterflies, turtles, and even an opossum.
Not all native plants projects are big. On the smaller scale the Melbourne Beach library created a native plant garden in a 9×120 foot space along the parking lot, in front of the building on Ocean Drive. Library Director Ashley Link says it’s intended to be a butterfly garden when the plants mature.
Native plants are so popular across Florida there is a statewide organization on the subject, Florida Native Plant Society [www.fnps.org]. There are chapters in many counties, including along the Space Coast and Treasure coast. (See sidebar) The chapters hold regular meetings and workshops. Membership is open to anyone interested in native plants.
The Conradina Chapter in south Brevard holds an annual tour to show off properties that are examples of the best use of native plants. The tours have been going on since 2010, and Chapter Treasurer Jane Higgens says they always attract a lot of interest. 350 people signed up last year.
The tour takes place in October and is self-guided. The chapter picks seven stops for 2023, mostly in the Satellite Beach area. Tour stops show off native plantings, and are based on recommendations from local nurseries and landscapers. For more information go to brevardlandscapetour.org. Registration opens in June or July.
The north Brevard Sea Rocket chapter conducts hikes around native plant locations several times a year, led by Dr. Paul Schmalzer, a plant ecologist from UCF. The public is invited, and can get details on the chapter’s website (see the sidebar). Several times a year, in spring and fall, the group holds native plant sales at the Enchanted Forest nature area in Titusville.
The native plant chapter for Martin and St. Lucie counties holds monthly meeting in the fall and spring. Chapter chairman Greg Braun says each month has a theme, and the meetings are followed by field trips to native plant locations. Braun says the ongoing mission of the chapter “is getting people to mow less” by reducing the amount of grass in their yards, and replacing grass with native plants.
Native plants are popular and make good sense. They save money on irrigation and fertilizer. They require less maintenance. They are good for the environment and the Indian River lagoon. And they are generally cheaper than more traditional ornamental landscaping. For more information contact the Native Plant Society chapter nearest you.