Easy Plants for Florida: Native Plants for a Beautiful and Durable Landscape

Looking for low maintenance, Florida friendly landscaping, that attracts butterflies, save the bees, and supports wildlife... cool... me too! I'm transforming a grass strip into a beautiful Florida native plants landscaping.
FREE SEASONAL GARDENING CALENDAR
www.wildflorid...
WILD FLORIDIAN GARDEN PLANNER
www.wildflorid...
_________
LINK TO VEGEGA RAISED BEDS
www.vegega.com...
10% COUPON CODE
WILDFLORIDIAN
_________
GARDEN TOOLS
MOVING MULCH
Free Mulch: getchipdrop.com/
Pitch/Bedding Fork: amzn.to/30Xrwrf
Yard Cart: amzn.to/3m0Ak5r
Double Tine Rake: amzn.to/3cLsQjn
Push Broom: amzn.to/3cHjWDB
DIGGING HOLES
Mattock: amzn.to/3oT89I9
Hand Shovel: amzn.to/3FJ8O5H
Hand Tool Combo: amzn.to/3CRZsTg
GARDEN GEAR
Boots: amzn.to/3m11gSO
Garden Gloves: amzn.to/30SY2e6
Shirt: teespring.com/...
PRUNING PLANTS
Micro Pruners: amzn.to/3l1IoEs
Pruners amzn.to/3BOw13Q
Hedge Trimmers: amzn.to/3m5GBx4
Loppers: amzn.to/3CS3aNy
Machete / Hatchet: amzn.to/3h8Coor
COMPOSTING
Compost Bin: amzn.to/3r5tlxl
Garden Fork: amzn.to/3FAoOH8
HARVESTING
Fruit Picker: amzn.to/3r9N12W
WILD FLORIDIAN GARDEN PLANNER
www.wildflorid...
_________
IN THE KITCHEN
Food Scale amzn.to/34XRVEv
Stasher Reusable Storage Bags amzn.to/3n5OIc5
FILMING EQUIPMENT
iPhone 8: amzn.to/3ka9kz1
Protective iPhone 8 Case: amzn.to/3i5tuJH
Gimbal: amzn.to/3jYEZDm
Tripod with Ring Light: amzn.to/32b76cl
________
SUPPORT
KZbin Membership • Wild Floridian Membership
DISCLAIMER: This video and description contain affiliate links. As an affiliate associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
_________
CONNECT
Twitter @WildFloridian / wildfloridian
Instagram wild_floridian / wild_floridian
Facebook Wild Florida / wildfloridian

[@Eryalb]

Gopher apple is an insect favorite and it can bloom nearly non stop. The fruit is edible for humans but is a favorite of gopher tortoises. It spreads by rhizomes and can make nice low growing plant. It's a sandhill, scrub, pine rockland type plant so it needs full sun and sandy well draining soil.

[@WildFloridian]

Thank you!!! I'll have to look more into it.

[@Jericho9696]

Ben: how many plants 🪴 did you get? Jacqueline: yes #gardengang

[@WildFloridian]

I see no lies in this conversation 😂

[@jennivanhart3016]

love your videos - am located in Gainesville, and try to furiously write down your suggestions. Would you (by chance) write up the plants you purchased in this video? I keep having to bounce back and forth and then try to work out how to spell those suckers!!!! Thank you for this channel.

[@WildFloridian]

Thank you Jenni! Here are the plants I purchased 😄 Starry Rosinweed Patridge Pea Joe Pye Weed Muhly Grass Coreopsis Levinworthii White Pineland Heliotrope Salt and Pepper (Everglades squarestem) Palafox Graceful Blazing Star Elegant Blazing Star Purple Coneflower Butterflyweed Whorled Milkweed Vanilla Flower Florida Green Eyes Railroad Vine Rain Lillies Dwarf Simpson Stopper Scrub Blueberry Scrub Mint Calamint / Calamanthia Rouge Plant Blue Azure Sage Cardinal Flower Sky Flower Blue Woodland Phlox

[@jennivanhart3016]

@@WildFloridian Thank you! Much appreciated and will be shopping this weekend 😂

[@ashleylitebrite6971]

Yes, for the Simpson's Stopper! Love it for your garden. I'm growing fakahatchee and pink muhly grass in my yard. Also have the dwarf yaupon holly (shillings I've been told). That's where my black racers live.

[@WildFloridian]

I love it!!! The wildlife must be so happy in your garden!

[@gennysanchez8200]

Great idea. It's encouraging watching you change things up.

[@WildFloridian]

I'm so glad you like!

[@sasha2345]

How do you propagate swamp milkweed??

[@Eryalb]

By seed. Milkweeds do not transplant well so by seed is the best option. Or purchase already established plants

[@WildFloridian]

I have a video coming out showing how. I've done it by seed and cuttings.

[@katiecannon8186]

Simpson stopper is great for both birds (berries) and bees. My cardinals +love+ the berries. You should definitely get one. Do it, do it !!!!

[@comewheelinwithjohnandchristie]

I looked in the transcript of your video, that helped me find the plants/flowers you looked at and purchased, thank you so much! I enjoy your videos. We just purchased a half acre of land for our RV in Gilchrist County (near Bell Florida) and I’ll be planting a butterfly garden soon! Thank you for all of your tips!

[@avgFloridian]

I have several Simpson's Stopper... well, technically the neighbor's but he doesn't trim them. They're planted more as a decorative hedge along a PVC fence. I did notice an abandoned bird nest the last time I trimmed them. It's mostly used as cover and concealment for the cats, raccoons and opossums who walk through.

[@WildFloridian]

What creeps into our yard is ours 😄

[@pray_plant_paint]

Definitely get the Joe Pye Weed!!! BEST butterfly plant!!!

[@WildFloridian]

Yay! I'm excited!

[@zaneymay]

I have the pink rain Lily I didn't know it came in white. If you want some scarlet hibiscus just let me know. I would be glad to send you some seeds. It takes two years to get a bloom from seeds or cutting.

[@WildFloridian]

I think the pink one is exotic but I might be remembering that incorrect. This one is definitely native. It is so pretty! And OMG yes please send me seeds!!!!!! I would love to try them out! 200 2nd Ave. S. #431 St. Petersburg, Florida 33701

[@zaneymay]

@@WildFloridian I will send them out this weekend.

[@noninoni9962]

Living in central Florida (west coast), with the pests, heat, mold and fungi, growing anything during summer can be an extreme challenge -- except the native plants... The things I don't like about them is, they LOOK like WEEDS -- scraggly stems and leaves, and tiny flowers... It would be great if you could highlight native plants that are luscious with greenage and lots of beautiful LARGE flowers!!

[@cherylj7460]

Fire bush!

[@RevAcres01]

Super fun video I learned so much from your shopping spree. Look forward to seeing the installation and final layout.

[@WildFloridian]

Yay! Thanks Kim! The install will be this Friday’s video! I’m very excited by how it turned out!

[@sasha2345]

What's the name of the cholocate smelling plant??

[@WildFloridian]

Florida Green Eyes

[@veroniquecroteau7902]

I just moved to Bradenton from Seattle and your videos have been so helpful because, my oh my, do I have zero idea about anything that grows here and how to deal with any of it. Plus, you just seem like a super fun person, so thanks for the great videos!!

[@fadista7063]

So inspired by your work--am looking to get my lawn gone also. I am down in SW Florida. So hot outside can only do about 4-5 hours a week on Sat and Sun right now

[@WildFloridian]

Thank you ☺️ I totally understand! The heat is brutal 🥵Hopefully you saw some things you liked for your future project.

[@fadista7063]

@@WildFloridian so many! I will need to bookmark this and watch again. I am trying to find as many edibles as possible too but also these pollinator attractants

[@avgFloridian]

37:14 It's a CARden.

[@WildFloridian]

BWAHAHAHAH!!!!! Well played... well played

[@chris-a26]

What's the best way to learn the names/details of all the Florida Natives? I'd love to be able to recognize them as well as you do just by looking at them!

[@WildFloridian]

Awww thanks Chris! I don’t know if it’s the best way but I can tell you how I learned. First I’m part of several native Facebook groups, Florida Native Gardening and Native Florida Plants. NFP is great because Joseph will often post a plant of the day. FNG is great because you can get advice on where to plant and see other peoples gardens. Florida Native Plant society is amazing and when you are a member ($35 a year which is a steal for what you get) they send the monthly newsletter which will do deep dives on plants. Then I just go to native nurseries and try to guess the plant before looking at the label. The more you are around them, the more you recognize them. I also have a whole series where I introduce a new native plant each video. A lot of Florida classics native plants in there. Just some ideas. Hope that helps ☺️

[@WildFloridian]

Here is the link to the series if you want to check it out kzbin.info/aero/PLfxugKDkQAouaZvvWvRM87eAfxFo1IPfc

[@chris-a26]

@@WildFloridian Awesome! I'll check all those out! Thank you! We're building a house on 2 acres in Central FL so I have a lot of space to fill! RIght now it just has a bunch of wild passion fruit vines, a few cactus, and some other plants I'm not sure of - Not many trees though unfortunately... Going to try grapes, bananas, DTG's Grocery Row system, Native Wildflowers, a food forest, I want to do it all, lol!

[@kimberlyd317]

My children turned into shrubs 🤣🤣🤣

[@pattybips5519]

I bought a native honeysuckle at little red wagon a couple years ago. It looks great in front of my air conditioner shroud. It's getting very big and I know it may outgrow its space because I live in a townhouse with an HOA and they will probably make me take it out. Wish I had a house I would fill the yard with natives.

[@cherylj7460]

I want to supply the lizards, birds and squirrels with edible, native plants.

[@GrowinpeacewithBeedoh]

This was the best! I feel your struggle filling up your cart. 😂😂 Thank you so much for your channel!

[@noninoni9962]

A plant I used see in big box stores and nurseries, and advertised as "Florida Friendly," I don't see anymore... They are lusciously green, with little cute purple flowers that drop off at night but will grow back again the next morning... I THINK they are called "Mexican Petunias," and grow wild in the drainage creek next to my house... They're cute but unfortunately, I constantly need to pluck their small babies out of my yard where they pop up, and I'm going to pull ones that I transplanted into a flowerbed a few years ago because of the same reason... Plus, being the end of July, they ALL now have (for the first time) what looks like powdery mildew... I'm trying to treat those in the flowerbed with hydrogen perixide + water + surfectant, without much success... Are they now considered invasive??

[@itserikafiedler]

I typically hate window shopping but this was so much fun to watch 🤣 excited!!! Have you posted the update??

[@busywithdogs]

You should have known that you were going to get yellow flowers, they match your shirt and sunglasses.😆

[@Eryalb]

Woodland phlox is such a cute plant! It must be tasty too because after I planted it and it started blooming, something came and ate all the flowers overnight. It rebloomed quickly though

[@WildFloridian]

Oh wow! Well I'm glad they bounced back!

[@brittanyl8101]

How do all of these plants do in winter? Do they die back and rebloom in spring? I live in hillsborough county florida

[@tammerakrawczeski1236]

Hey WF do you have a growing calendar that you sell? I thought I saw something about that…??

[@mariannemanners6420]

dang you live in Saint Petersburg, don't you? I do so it sounded familiar.

[@isabelhernandez1093]

I live in the Tampa area and have recently found your channel do you have any recommendations for for nurseries that carry native plants

[@sojankattilparambilsecretf1339]

Thanks for sharing 💗🦋💫🌏🙏

[@betsycline5170]

Do you ever do personal garden tours at your home? I have my whole front yard as a garden. I have added a native area but want to put in a ton more plants. I’m impressed with your knowledge. Recommend any specific books?

[@busywithdogs]

Who do you watch in GA? Trying to find resources.

[@wingnox]

My blazing star died when I got it I was so bummed. Might need to take a ride to the other side by you.

[@legauxmc]

Good morning Great journey to follow on this blessed morning

[@WildFloridian]

🥰 Thank you and Good Morning ☀️

[@gaylenehooper4195]

Thanks to you I have hummingbirds butterflies and bees all over my backyard here in Las Cruces New Mexico thank you for your inspiration

[@WildFloridian]

Wonderful! 🥰

[@Florida882]

You don’t worry about roots when you plant things right next to the house? We removed a bunch of trees that rubbed on the roof and caused damage. The tree guy said how that’s the biggest mistake is putting things right close to a house.

[@WildFloridian]

Many of the plants I put near the house do not have the concrete breaking power. The one that I planted that is a watch out is the mulberry. When it comes to trees near the house… the closest is the cassia which doesn’t touch the roof line. The fire bush touch occasionally and then I prune them.

[@Donna4and5]

How do you eliminate your grass and control weeds?

[@BasedBidoof]

I need to re-watch this video 5 times

[@lsipp2889]

Agree with you on the names of some of these plants! Lol Ragwort?? Noo. Btw I use Starry Rosinflower instead of Rosin weed. ;) Btw just wondering if you could possibly slow the camera down a little? :) It moves so fast sometimes! Love your videos though! ❤️ We learn so much every time.

[@WildFloridian]

Good tip! I should call it Rosinflower... so many natives are called weeds 😭 It makes them sound bad. But they are so pretty. And, yes, I'll slow that camera down 😄

[@lynndragoun6564]

Gopher apple is also a plant the gopher tortoises eat.

[@WildFloridian]

Thank you Lynn!

[@badbrothers8221]

I’m in tampa love little red wagon!

[@mariangie1544]

There is a ground cover that is used at Disney campuses. It has a tiny yellow flower. I wonder what is it.

[@WildFloridian]

Perennial peanut is very cute! (not native but Florida Friendly)

[@georgweyand88]

Thanks so much for this awesome video. My house in Naples may be ready in April or May and then I hope I will be able to visit you and go plant shopping with you. I will have about half an acre to play with and plant lots of native flowers and bushes and some trees.

[@WildFloridian]

So much land! That will be fun to design

[@rsmalesk]

This was a great one today. Any of the plants you bought that would definitely not work in Florida 9A?

[@WildFloridian]

Off the top of my head... I can't think of any that wouldn't work in north Florida. Some of these are actually native to the panhandle. I checked a few that I wondered if they were central/south and they all showed good to zone 8a. I'm glad you found some inspiration!

[@laurenpaolini7073]

I love shopping vicariously through you!! I'm moving in a month, so can't even start my usual fall garden. I'm in withdrawal, so this video was wonderful!

[@WildFloridian]

I’m glad my shopping trip helped you… I’ll let Ben know… must do more shopping to help Lauren! And happy packing and wishing you the best on your move!

[@chrisspilker8889]

Yay!!! Watching bc I was planning to visit both nurseries to fill the area where I killed the grass!

[@WildFloridian]

Yay!!! Killing grass and planting natives!!! 🙌 I hope you get lots of ideas and everyone at both nurseries is so helpful. If you aren’t sure what to do with an area bring pictures and some info on the area and they will help!

[@121homestead9]

I wish I knew about your channel when we lived in Largo….3 hours north now

[@WildFloridian]

🥰 Many/most of these will work in central north Florida.

[@joann2544]

Did I hear you say you were buying purple coneflower??? I used to have them in my garden in North Carolina but not in south Florida. Do they grow for you? (I miss purple coneflower so much. I have it as the background on my laptop!)

[@WildFloridian]

Your ears did not deceive you! I planted some this spring and just as my first bloom was opening... my lawn guys weed wacked them.... so... But yes, there are native purple coneflowers to Florida. Just get them from one of the Florida suppliers like the Florida Wildflower Cooperative to ensure you get ones that work in our ecosystem.

[@joann2544]

@@WildFloridian thanks so much. I will look for them in my fall trip to the local native nurseries. Thanks for your videos!! 🌻🌼🌻🌼

[@ourtrailmixoflife2085]

I bought a fire bush locally. They said it's native but I don't think so after watching your video. I think Sweet Bay Nursery in parrish may be the closet place for natives near me. I will have to check them out soon.

[@BackyardFlorida]

You really know your native plants! Very informative. Little Red Wagon sold me a nice size Simpson Stopper. It was nearly 3 ft tall. I'm hoping it will bloom this year!

[@llmphotos]

Oh you’re in my neighborhood!! I’m helping monarch’s because of your videos. Thank you for your passion for Florida. I’m a FL girl too. 👒

[@pray_plant_paint]

This is like plant porn! LOVE IT! Do you have any recommendations for nurseries near Cedar Key FL?

[@lilmak889]

Jackie, do you get any morpho butterflies or however they are spelled 🤣 these ones - 🦋

[@WildFloridian]

No 😭 They aren't indigenous to Florida. But I saw some in Costa Rica... they are soooo pretty.

[@lilmak889]

@@WildFloridian yes, they are gorgeous. Maybe some way some day somehow they will venture here 😍

[@lauriehessler8639]

Great video!!! I have the Florida green eyes planted with native porter weed and they look really pretty together. And they do smell wonderful but the scent is very subtle and unless you get really close to the flowers you can't smell it. (The neighbors probably think I'm nuts for getting down on all fours to smell the flowers, lol) Also, I have grown cardinal flowers and they like it wet so make sure they are near a sprinkler head. I've been to Wilcox several times but haven't been to Little Red Wagon so thanks for the tour 🌺🌻🌺🌻🌺🌻🌺

[@wesleyhackney]

I’m so jealous of you having great nurseries to shop at. I live in Pensacola / Navarre FL area and we have very few nurseries plus what we have offer very little variety regarding native plants enjoy!

[@zm35r2bn]

I bought the water plants with the the huge beautiful purple flower with red tips all she's gorgeous

[@Jaynes-Path]

Talking about the chocolate plant made me think of my Chocolate vine. Have you ever tried it? After it became established and grew slowly for a year or two, it finally grew fruit pods. When ripe the pods produce a tapioca tasting center. The leaves and flower clusters smell like chocolate. I wish it was more aggressive but it seems to grow to a determined size and stops. I've had it for years, planted in the ground along a fence.

[@starryeyedwish8005]

How did you learn all these names!

[@WildFloridian]

Practice? Shopping a lot… I try to guess the names before looking. Plus I’m part of native gardening groups including FNPS.

[@fishingsouthwestflorida1586]

If you ever come to ft Myers check out all native nursery it’s really good

[@Bittagrit]

Does anyone know of a native plant nursery near Leesburg FL

[@glendawallace9566]

I would like to know also

[@mistycarter9809]

Can i just say that I love watching you get excited when you go to these nurseries 😂

[@rudekperezacupuncturist]

Is going to be crazy good looking!

[@WildFloridian]

Thank you ☺️

[@Life_Kyle]

Thanks for sharing, great video!

[@rays718]

You are too funny! 🤗

[@WildFloridian]

Thank you!! 😁