Wildflowers in SW Florida – Xeric Group

This group of flower images were made from observations during the last February, March and April. This is the second of a series on wildflowers of SWFL. These images represent some of the flowers which were seen in three distinct environments: uplands, pine and saw palmetto flats and costal flats. There is some crossover of plants which may be seen in multiple environments. For organizational simplicity the images have been separated into two groups: those that grow better in moist soil areas are in the mesic group, those that grow better in dryer soils are listed in the dry mesic and xeric group.

The images which are used here for illustration show the beauty and diversity of the native plants. As a supplement to these images there is a spread sheet posted under PAGES of this site which lists the plant growing requirements. If you wish, this information may be used to assist in selection of plants which you could plant in your own SWFL community or home garden. The images are associated with a Fig #. That number is the data key number listed in the first (Left) column of the spread sheet. Use that number to correlate the image to the data.

The featured image is Figure 22. Pinebarren Goldenrod (Solidago fistulosa)

Figure 2. Nettle Leaf (*Salvia urticifolia)*

Figure 3 Florida Tickseed (*Coreopsis floridana*)

Figure 4 Nuttall’s Thistle (*Cirsium nuttallii)*

Figure 6. Simond’s Aster, (*symphyotrichum simmondsii)*

Figure 7 Southeastern Sunflower (*Helianthus agrestis*)

Figure 20 Flag pawpaw (*Asimina obovate*)

Figure 24 Tickseed (*Coreopsis Leavenworthii*)

Figure 26 Sweetscent (*Pluchea odorata*)

Figure 29. Rabbit bells (*Crotalaria rotundifolia*)

Fig 38. Rusty Lionia (*Lyonia ferruginea*)

There are definitely fewer flowering plants in the dry group. These flowers are less flamboyant in color, shape and size. The dominant chromas are in the middle of the visible light spectrum, the hues are in the lighter range and the values are in the middle zones. Their growth in single plants tend to be in dense florets and panicles. As groups of plants they tend to be distributed in patches of the landscape. This may be related to their propagation frequently by seeding.

For the gardeners be sure to check out the supplement to these images on the spread sheet in the Pages post on this site titled findings/Wildflowers in SWFL

References:

Real Florida Gardeners Guide lists native nurseries

Guide for Choosing Native Plants by Florida Wildflower Foundation

Pruning Notes for Native Plants by Grounded Solutions

Getting into the “Weeds:” An Introduction to Common Lawn Plants and Their Ecological Benefits

Plant This Not That book

Attracting Butterflies with Wildflowers by Florida Wildflower Foundation

Full Plant Reference List

Native Florida Landscape – Florida treasure coast

Estero preserve

Florida Soil

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