Part Of The American Meadows Meadowscaping Learning Center
Florida Native Plants, State Flowers & State Bird
Native plants are adaptable, low-maintenance, and beautiful. They are the best choice for habitat-friendly gardens and thriving ecosystems. Find top picks for native plants in your state - and learn about your state bird and state flowers!
Follow Along With More Of Our Guides
Hello native plant enthusiasts! In the list below, you will find popular native plants and wildflower seeds, available from American Meadows, that have a native distribution in your state. You’ll also find information about your state bird, state flower, and state wildflower!
About Our Native Plant Lists For Each State
- The links will take you to a single plant or seed selection for the plant listed -- but in many cases, we offer multiple cultivars for each plant, and we may offer both seeds and potted plants to grow the plant on your list. This list is a work in progress as we expand our native plant educational resources.
- The list for your state is a great place for getting started with native plants - but it is by no means a comprehensive listing of the hundreds of native plants growing in each state.
Florida Native Plants
Grow our Native Southeast Wildflower Seed Mix!
Wrinkleleaf Goldenrod (Solidago rugosa)
Perennial Lupine (Lupinus perennis)
Black Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida)
Black Eyed Susan or Gloriosa Daisy (Rudbeckia hirta)
Yellow Prairie Coneflower (Ratibida columnifera)
Gray Headed Coneflower (Ratibida pinnata)
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)
Plains Coreopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria)
Lanceleaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata)
Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)
Phlox divaricata (Woodland Phlox)
Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana)
Red Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
Blazing Star (Liatris spicata)
Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris)
Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)
Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
Northern Sea Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium)
Yellow Prairie Grass (Sorghastrum nutans)
Sky Blue Aster (Symphyotrichum oolentangiense)
Common White Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Heliopsis (Heliopsis helianthoides)
Florida State Bird, State Flower & State Wildflower
Mockingbird ~ Mimus polyglottos
Known from coast to coast, especially where the climate is balmy, Mockingbirds are one of the most varied of all songsters. It takes an expert to distinguish between the mocker's original melodies and his imitations, but some listeners have recorded as many as eighty-seven imitations of other sounds in seven minutes, all repeated four or five times. One Mockingbird joined a National Symphony Orchestra during an outdoor concert and imitated the flute which imitated the bird calls in "Peter and the Wolf."
Orange Blossom ~ Citrus sinensis
The exquisite fragrance of this waxy, white flower, so rich in romantic association, is reason enough for its being Florida's contribution to the national garland. Among other distinctions, the Orange Blossom is the only state flower from which a perfume is commercially produced. Growing on a low-branching evergreen tree which seldom grows more than thirty-feet high, the blossoms usually have five petals and attract the bees whose honey is of a very distinct and delicious flavor.
From The Wildflowers of the 50 States U.S. stamps issues July 24, 1992:
About Native Plants
- Native plants are essential for healthy ecosystems and habitat. They have evolved over time with local wildlife and climate conditions. Many pollinators have special relationships with native plants that they rely on for survival. For instance, some bees are specialists and require nectar and pollen from specific native plants to survive; and butterflies and moths often have specific host plants needed to nourish their caterpillars. For example, Asclepias (Milkweed or Butterfly Weed) is the host plant required for Monarch caterpillars to survive and grow into Monarch Butterflies!
- It’s OK to grow native plants in your yard that may not be native to your state or region. Remember – just because a plant is not native, does not necessarily mean that it is invasive or harmful. In fact, growing well-behaved introduced plants that are suited to your growing conditions can still provide many benefits to your yard (especially when compared to a traditional turf lawn).
- Know before you grow – It's always a good idea to learn what plants are native, well-behaved, and invasive or aggressive in your region before digging in.
- Learn More: All About Native Plants
Explore our full selection of native plants and seeds
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