Submitting Florida Native Flowers (North Florida Edition)
- Laura Zurro
- May 20, 2024
- 7 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 North 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 North Florida
Leaf-cutter bee (Megachile sp.) on Stokes' Aster (c) Laura Zurro Male bumble bee species sleeping under wildflower (c) Laura Zurro
The following plants are native to North 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.
Black Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
My child will study the composite inflorescence structure - identifying disk and ray florets and exploring their roles in reproduction.
My child will search for male native bees that sleep in or under flowers, learning about their nocturnal and early-morning resting behaviors as part of pollinator life cycle studies.
My child will learn about xeric upland ecosystems and explore how this plant adapts to variable moisture and soil conditions.
Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium)
My child will study diurnal floral phenology by observing how the flowers open during midday.
My child will practice observational bee surveys and compare the colors, sizes, and species of native bees they observe.
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
My child will learn about pollinator-attracting composite flowers and track insect visitation.
My child will study seed head development and dispersal for journal observation.
Blue Curls (Trichostema dichotomum)
My child will explore pollen presentation and transfer strategies using a plant with specialized stamens.
They will track bloom timing and flowering duration as part of a phenology study.
They will learn about plant adaptations for drought tolerance in sandy upland soils.
Button Snakeroot (Eryngium yuccifolium)
My child will study unusual flower structures and track which pollinators can access them.
My child will learn about plants that thrive in fire-adapted wet prairie ecosystems.
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 foraging behavior and learn how beak shape influences pollination.
My child will investigate the role of flower color in pollinator attraction and plant reproduction.
My child will collect, dry, and document seed dispersal methods for hands-on botany and journaling practice.
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.
White Milkweed (Asclepias perennis)
My child will observe and document the complete life cycle of Monarch and Queen butterflies as they interact with this host plant.
My child will investigate wetland-edge plant communities and how native species adapt to saturated soils.
My child will record butterfly activity and contribute their findings to citizen science platforms like iNaturalist or Journey North.
Butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
My child will observe milkweed pod development and study seed dispersal adaptations.
My child will compare Butterflyweed’s drought tolerance with wetland milkweed species like Asclepias incarnata.
My child will explore how milkweed supports Monarch and Queen butterfly life cycles.
My child will observe the life cycles of Common Buckeye and Phaon Crescent butterflies, which use Frogfruit as a larval host plant.
My child will study tiny native bees like Lasioglossum and Ceratina that visit the flowers for nectar and pollen.
My child will compare how well Frogfruit cuttings root in soil versus in water, learning about vegetative propagation.
Spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis)
My child will study diurnal anthesis (daily flower opening) and track the short-lived bloom cycle of each flower.
My child will observe post-pollination senescence by recording how quickly flowers wilt after successful pollination.
Hairy Sunflower (Helianthus hirsutus)
My child will observe patterns of bee and butterfly visitation throughout the bloom period.
My child will sketch and label the composite flower structure as part of a botany unit on inflorescence types.
Lanceleaf tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolata)
My child will conduct a pollinator preference study by observing which insects visit this native wildflower.
My child will compare the habitat needs of different Coreopsis species and document how soil and water affect bloom success.
Leavenworth's tickseed (Coreopsis leavenworthii)
My child will explore why Coreopsis leavenworthii is Florida’s State Wildflower and its importance in native ecosystems.
They will observe seasonal blooming patterns and document flower changes over time.
They will learn how to collect and propagate native seeds as part of a hands-on botany project.
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.
Stokes’ aster (Stokesia laevis)
My child will study Stokes’ Aster as a valuable late-season nectar source for native pollinators.
My child will observe a variety of insect visitors and record differences in species behavior and timing.
My child will learn how native plants support seasonal biodiversity in upland ecosystems.
Chapman’s goldenrod (Solidago odora var. chapmanii)
My child will learn about fall-blooming plants in upland pine habitats.
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.
Giant ironweed (Vernonia gigantea)
My child will track pollinator diversity and explore plant scent adaptations.
My child will learn about fall-blooming plants in upland pine habitats.
Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata)
My child will learn about mutualism between ants and extra-floral nectaries.
My child will study how legumes enrich soil in native ecosystems.
My child will observe the complete life cycle of the Cloudless Sulphur butterfly, which relies on Partridge Pea as a host plant for its caterpillars.
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
Complete Guide to Florida's Wildflowers, Roger Hammer
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
Discover Plant Communities Near You - 12 Regional Guides, Florida Native Plant Association
Hands-On Projects & Inspiration
Florida Native Milkweed / Monarch Butterflies
This article and short video from WFSU show how to grow native Florida milkweeds, support butterflies like monarchs, and explore fun science activities you can do with your child.
Florida Native Milkweed: Tips for Growing Your Monarch Friendly Garden, WFSU Ecology Blog
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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