Submitting Florida Native Flowers (Central Florida Edition)
- Laura Zurro
- May 20
- 6 min read
Updated: 7 days ago
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 Central Florida native wildflowers and host plants that support learning about topics such as ecology, botany, Florida ecosystems, 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 Central Florida
The following plants are native to Central 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.
My child will observe seasonal blooming patterns and explore how silver foliage helps plants adapt to hot, dry environments.
My child will observe how Narrowleaf Silkgrass supports underrepresented native pollinators and practice identifying insect visitors using a journal or field guide.
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.
My child is studying flower symmetry and pollinator preferences.
My child is monitoring insect visitation patterns.
My child is learning about coastal hammock habitats.
My child is observing pollen transfer mechanisms.
My child is studying phenology tracking
My child is learning about drought-tolerant adaptations.
My child will learn about the role of fire in maintaining Florida scrub ecosystems and how aromatic native plants like Pennyroyal adapt to these conditions.
My child will learn about early-season pollinators and the importance of native plants that bloom in late winter and early spring. They will observe early season native bees like Habropoda laboriosa.
My child will track bumble bees, leaf cutter bees, and other pollinator that visit the flowers. bee-pollination activities.
My child will learn how flowers bloom in a pattern by observing how Liatris flowers open from top to bottom.
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.
My child will study daily blooming cycles.
My child will observe rapid flower drop after pollination.
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.
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.
My child will participate in the Great Southeast Pollinator Census to track the number and diversity of insects visiting the plant.
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.
My child will conduct a pollinator attraction study.
My child will compare different Coreopsis species and their habitat preferences.
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.
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.
My child will learn about important fall nectar sources.
My child will observe how many different insect species visit the flowers.
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.
My child will observe the life stages of the White peacock caterpillars and butterflies.
My child will study wetland plant adaptations.
My child will learn about mutualism between ants and extrafloral nectaries.
My child will study how legumes enrich soil in native ecosystems.
My child will learn about buzz pollination (sonication).
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
Gardening for Wildlife in Florida (PDF): Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Florida Wildflower Foundation Classroom Resources (Extensive List)
Sandhill Ecosystem and Ecology Resources, Stetson University
Attracting Pollinator with Native Plants video from Stetson University
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.