Submitting Florida Native Flowers (South Florida Edition)
- Leah Brooks
- May 18, 2024
- 5 min read
Natives are Reimbursable (Usually)!
Florida’s scholarship programs exclude “landscaping” and “ornamental” plants from
reimbursement - but choosing native wildflowers can provide clear educational value.
By choosing Florida native pollinator plants, you’re creating hands-on opportunities for learning about biology, ecology, and the interconnection of natural systems. To meet scholarship goals — you need the right plants and a clear explanation of how they connect to your student’s educational journey.
This guide offers 20 carefully selected South Florida native wildflowers and host plants that support learning about topics such as ecology, botany, Florida ecosystems, entomology and pollinator science. Each plant includes suggested learning connections to help you confidently request reimbursement while also supporting Florida’s ecosystems.
Why Native Plants Instead of Big-Box Landscaping?
While plants from big-box stores may be popular, they are typically not native and may be harder to get reimbursed. That’s because reviewers may consider them general landscaping, not tied to learning themes.
To make your reimbursement request stronger, clearly tie the purchase of native wildflowers to:
Florida ecology and habitat studies
Plant-pollinator interactions
STEM and place-based education
Citizen science and outdoor observation
Keep reading to find the exact wording to use when submitting!
Where to Buy Native Plants
Use the Plant Real Florida Professionals Directory to find native plant nurseries across the state. You can search for retail locations near you or online mail-order nurseries that ship within Florida.
20 Native Wildflowers for South Florida
The following plants are native to South Florida and offer rich opportunities for hands-on learning. They will spark student curiosity and connect directly to a variety of educational opportunities such as Florida ecology, botany, life cycles, entomology, and citizen science.
Wild Petunia (Ruellia caroliniensis)
My child is studying flower structures and reproduction
My child is learning about Florida upland ecosystems
Dune Sunflower (Helianthus debilis)
My child is exploring salt-tolerant coastal ecosystem
My child will be observing tiny stem-nesting native bees
My child will be practicing observational bee surveys
Scorpiontail (Heliotropium angiospermum)
My child is studying flower symmetry and pollinator preferences
My child is monitoring insect visitation patterns
My child is learning about coastal hammock habitats
Blue Curls (Trichostema dichotomum)
My child is observing pollen transfer mechanisms
My child is studying phenology tracking
My child is learning about drought-tolerant adaptations
Southern River Sage (Salvia misella)
My child will be progating salvia misella from cuttings
My child will be comparing different salvia species and habitat requirements
My child will be tracking bee-pollination activities
My child will be studying drought adaptation and rosette formation
My child will be comparing native vs ornamental sage
Tropical Sage (Salvia coccinea)
My child will observe hummingbird behavior when they visit this plant
My child will study how flower color attracts pollinators
My child will collect and observe seed dispersal
Spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis)
My child will study daily blooming cycles
My child will observe rapid flower drop after pollination
Pink Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
My child will observe the life cycles of Monarch and Queen butterflies when they visit this plant
My child will be studying wetland-edge plant communities
My child will track butterfly visitors for citizen science
Butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
My child will observe/study milkweed seed release
My child will compare butterflyweed with milkweeds that grow in wet environments
My child will learn about the life cycle of the Common Buckeye and Phaon Crescent butterflies
My child will observe tiny native bees visiting the flowers
My child will compare rooting success in soil vs water
Porterweed (Stachytarpheta jamaicensis)
My child will grow a pollinator pot and track how different insects use porterweed vs other species
Corkystem Passionflower (Passiflora suberosa)
My child will observe the life stages of the Zebra Longwing, Gulf Fritillary, and Julia Heliconian butterflies
My child will observe which birds come to eat the berries
Lanceleaf tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolata)
My child will conduct a pollinator attraction study
My child will compare different Coreopsis species and their habitat preferences
Leavenworth's tickseed (Coreopsis leavenworthii)
My child will learn about the Florida State wildflower
My child will study seasonal blooming patterns
My child will practice seed saving and propagation
My child will study native prairie ecosystems
Virginia Pepperweed (Lepidium virginicum)
My child will study the life cycle of the Cabbage White and Checkered White butterflies when they visit this plant
My child will explore this plant's edible uses
Frostweed (Verbesina virginica)
My child will learn about important fall nectar sources
My child will observe how many different insect species visit the flowers
Seaside goldenrod (Solidago mexicana)
My child will explore how certain plants adapt to salty environments
My child will be completing a pollinator survey to track insect diversity and visitor types
My child will discover goldenrod's value to monarchs and birds during fall migration
Herb-of-Grace (Bacopa monnieri)
My child will observe the life stages of the White peacock caterpillars and butterflies
My child will study wetland plant adaptations
Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata)
My child will learn about mutualism between ants and extrafloral nectaries
My child will study how legumes enrich soil in native ecosystems
Final Notes
Florida native wildflowers are more than just pretty flowers — they are living labs that support hands-on science learning, native ecosystem observation, and student engagement with the natural world.
Encourage students to photograph visiting insects using a phone or explore macro photography to capture pollinator interactions up close. Journaling these observations — through sketches, notes, or photo logs — adds a creative and scientific layer to the experience.
By selecting the right plants and tying them to learning themes like pollination, biodiversity, life cycles, and Florida habitats, you can successfully make your case for reimbursement and support Florida’s wildlife at the same time.
Further Reading; Learning Resources
Botany in a Day by Thomas J. Elpel
Bringing Nature Home by Douglas Tallamy
Florida’s Fabulous Butterflies by Thomas C. Emmel; Brian J. Kenny
Florida’s Fabulous Insects by Thomas C. Emmel
Native Plants for Florida Gardens by Stacey Matrazzo and Nancy Bissett
The Nature of Florida’s Neighborhoods by Gary Goforth
Gardening for Wildlife in Florida (PDF): Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Florida Wildflower Foundation Classroom Resources (Extensive List)
Hands-On Projects & Inspiration
Pollinator Pot Project
Learn how to grow native plants like frogfruit, porterweed, herb-of-grace, and Southern river sage in small containers to support pollinators even in tight spaces.
Explore Florida’s Native Bees
Get to know the bees that benefit from these wildflowers. Perfect for insect ID, science journaling, and ecosystem discussions.
Nature Journaling & Macro Photography
Encourage students to document their observations of insects and wildflowers through drawing or photography. Even simple phone cameras can be used to explore insect behavior, flower structure, and pollinator diversity. Recommended book: Keeping a Nature Journal by Clare Walker Leslie – great for kids and teens.
About the Author
This guide was created by Laura Zurro, a published native bee photographer, Florida native plant advocate, and environmental education resource creator.
She runs the Facebook group Florida Native Bees and maintains her website laurazurro.com. Laura is passionate about helping families connect with the natural world and making ecological learning accessible to all ages.
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