Welcome to the brand new UF/IFAS Extension Orange County & Winter Park Library Native Pollinator Garden!

Located just over the bridge at the Winter Park Library, this garden is a collaborative partnership among Dr. Heather Kalaman with UF/IFAS Extension Orange County, the Winter Park Library, Master Gardener Volunteers, and the Florida Wildflower Foundation. This garden features 100% Florida native plants and was designed with pollinators in mind, offering essential habitat for bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects while contributing to soil stabilization and biodiversity conservation.

 

The native plant species found here are especially well-suited for Florida’s unique climate and soil conditions. Unlike many non-native ornamentals, they require no fertilizer, minimal irrigation, and zero pesticide inputs to thrive and provide! This translates to reduced maintenance, lower environmental impact, and greater resilience in the landscape. By selecting species adapted to the local environment, the Winter Park Native Pollinator Garden provides year-round beauty while supporting vital pollinator populations.

Made possible through the Florida Wildflower Foundation’s Seeds of Knowledge Library Demonstration Gardens Grant Program, this garden also serves as a valuable educational resource for the community.

Interested in growing your own native wildflowers from seed? Stop inside the Winter Park Library to explore our Native Seed Library and learn how to get started!

Garden installation day. Photos by Chris Weber, UF/IFAS Extension Orange County.

Here’s a brief overview of the native plant species featured in the Winter Park Library Native Pollinator Garden, highlighting their ecological roles and benefits:

Lanceleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata): This short-lived perennial boasts bright yellow flowers that attract butterflies and other pollinators. It thrives in full sun and moist, well-drained soils, making it ideal for wildflower beds and butterfly gardens.

Tickseed coreopsis (Coreopsis spp.): A diverse genus, tickseeds are known for their daisy-like yellow blooms that support a variety of pollinators. They are adaptable to different soil types and conditions, flourishing in sunny spots with moderate moisture.​

Rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium): Featuring spiky, globe-shaped white flowers, this plant attracts bees and butterflies. It prefers well-drained soils and full sun, adding architectural interest to gardens.​

Dune sunflower (Helianthus debilis): A sprawling groundcover with bright yellow blooms, it thrives in sandy soils and full sun, providing nectar for pollinators and stabilizing soil in coastal areas.

Scorpion’s tail (Heliotropium angiospermum): This plant produces clusters of small white flowers that attract butterflies and bees. It prefers full sun and well-drained soils, adding a delicate fragrance to gardens.​

Yellowtop flaveria (Flaveria linearis): With bright yellow flowers, this plant attracts a plethora of butterflies, bees, and flower beetles. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soils.​

Spotted bee balm (Monarda punctata): Known for its unique spotted flowers, it attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. It prefers full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soils.​

Starry rosinweed (Silphium asteriscus): This plant features bright yellow flowers that attract pollinators. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soils, adding a bold splash of color to gardens.​

Silverleaf aster (Pityopsis graminifolia): With silvery leaves and yellow flowers, this plant attracts pollinators and adds texture to gardens. It prefers full sun and well-drained soils.​

Scarlet sage (Salvia coccinea): This plant produces red tubular flowers that attract hummingbirds and butterflies. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soils, adding vibrant color to landscapes.​

Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis): Known for its striking red flowers, it attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. It prefers moist, well-drained soils and partial shade.​

Skullcap (Scutellaria spp.): These plants produce blue to purple flowers that attract bees and butterflies. They prefer full sun to partial shade and well-drained soils.

Spiderwort (Tradescantia spp.): Known for its vibrant purple flowers, it attracts bees and butterflies. It prefers full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soils.​

Stokes aster (Stokesia laevis): This plant features large, showy blue flowers that attract butterflies. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soils.​

Twinflower (Dyschoriste oblongifolia): With small purple flowers, this plant attracts pollinators and adds a subtle beauty to gardens. It prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soils.​

Frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora): This groundcover produces small white to purple flowers that attract butterflies and bees. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and well-drained soils.​

Dwarf Fakahatchee grass (Tripsacum floridana): This grass species features narrow leaves and produces small flowers that attract pollinators. It prefers full sun and well-drained soils.​

Elliott’s Lovegrass – Silver (Eragrostis elliottii): Known for its fine-textured foliage and airy seed heads, this grass attracts pollinators and adds movement to landscapes. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soils.​

Elliott’s Lovegrass – Purple (Eragrostis elliottii): Similar to the silver variety, this grass features purplish seed heads that attract pollinators and add color to gardens.

Lopsided Indian grass (Sorghastrum secundum): A robust bunchgrass native to Florida’s pinelands and sandhills, it features tall, dramatic flower spikes with reddish-brown awns and bright yellow anthers. It blooms in late summer and attracts skippers and other pollinators. ​

Wild coffee (Psychotria nervosa): An evergreen shrub that attracts various pollinators, including bees and butterflies. It thrives in partial to full shade and moist, well-drained soils, making it ideal for understory planting. ​

Flatwoods plum (Prunus umbellata): A deciduous small tree with showy white flowers in spring, it attracts butterflies and other pollinators. It prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soils, making it suitable for small landscapes. ​

Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana): This deciduous shrub produces clusters of vibrant purple berries in late summer and fall, attracting birds and other wildlife. It prefers full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soils, adding ornamental value to landscapes.