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North Florida Research and Education Center

155 Research Road

Quincy, FL 32351-5677

Phone: (850) 875-7160
Fax: (850) 875-7188
Email: wldflowr@ufl.edu

Projects

Jeff Norcini

Associate Professor of Environmental Horticulture

Wildflowers

Nationwide, there is an increasing awareness and understanding of the important role that regionally adapted native wildflower and grasses play in sound ecosystem management of roadsides and natural areas.  Until recently, seed from plants adapted to Florida's environment has not been available except for small amounts of wild collected seed. The goal of the this program, started in 1996, is to develop the information needed for successful propagation, establishment, and maintenance of Florida ecotypes of native wildflowers in production, roadside, and landscape situations, with a secondary emphasis on native grasses.  It is primarily designed to support native wildflower seed producers and clientele involved with establishment of sustainable native wildflower populations from seed.  A secondary emphasis is on container production of native wildflowers and grasses.  

Research and extension efforts focus on seed biology and development of efficient seed production practices.  This work, while playing a major role in the birth of Florida's native wildflower seed industry in the late 1990's, is just part of the expanding cooperative effort between the public and private sectors to beautify our roadsides and landscapes with sustainable populations of wildflowers native to Florida.   

Selected Current Native Wildflower/Grass Projects 

Florida Department of Transportation Project (2004-2008) 

•  Evaluate methods for establishing plantings of Florida ecotypes of native wildflowers under simulated roadside conditions. 
•  Evaluate management methods that will result in preservation and spread of naturally occurring roadside wildflower populations in South Florida.
• Develop Best Management Practices (BMPs) for establishing and maintaining
  plantings of Florida ecotypes of native wildflowers.
•  Inputs associated with establishment and maintenance will be used to estimate the costs needed to implement the BMPs.

Graduate Student (PhD):  Anne Frances (annefran@ufl.edu)

Co-advisor:  Carrie Reinhardt-Adams

Other faculty: Sandy Wilson, Debbie Miller, Doria Gordon

Progress Report, March 2008 (PDF)

     (previous reports upon request)

Native Wildflower Seed Production – Establishing a Lanceleaf Tickseed  (Coreopsis lanceolata) Seed Production Planting via Small Farmer Supplied Transplants (2005-2006)

Funding - Center for Cooperative Agricultural Programs (CCAP)

Status Report (PDF)

Effect of Seed Sowing Date, Container Size, and Fertilization on Container Production of Coreopsis floridana (2005-2007)

Co-PI:  Gary Knox

Physiological and Anatomical Causes of Seed Dormancy of Coreopsis species (2006-2009)

Graduate Student (PhD):  Dzingai Rukuni (drukuni@ufl.edu)

Co-advisor:  Dan Cantliffe

Performance of Muhlenbergia capillaris Accessions under Simulated Landscaped Conditions (2006-2009)

co-PI:  Gary Knox

co-PI:  Brooksville Plant Materials Center (USDA, NRCS) -
      Mimi Williams, Janet Grabowski, MaryAnne Gonter

Selected Past Native Wildflower Projects 

Native Wildflower Seed Production:  An Alternative Commodity For Tobacco Growers (2002-2003) 

Final Report (PDF)

Funding - Florida Tobacco Settlement Fund via Dean for Extension,
      University of Florida

Treatment and Germination of Florida Native Wildflower Seeds
for Commercial Production and Natural Landscaping (2003-2005)

Funding - Florida Wildflower Advisory Council

PI:  Bijan Dehgan (retired)

Year 1 Report (PDF)

Year 2 Report (PDF)

Native Wildflower Seed Production – Establishing a Seed Production Planting of Phlox via Transplants (2004-2005)

Funding - Center for Cooperative Agricultural Programs (CCAP)

Final Report (PDF)

An Ecologically Based Study of Germination Requirements and Dormancies in Three Commercially Produced Florida Native Wildflowers (2004)

Graduate Student (MS):  Steven Kabat

Co-advisor:  Bijan Dehgan (retired)

Thesis: Full Text

Information about Dissertations & Theses Digitized at UF

Funding - Florida Department of Transportation

Production and Performance of Gaillardia Cultivars and Ecotypes (2005)

Graduate Student (MS):  Helen E. Hammond (formerly Danielson)

Advisor:  Sandy Wilson

Thesis: Full Text

Information about Dissertations & Theses Digitized at UF

Assessing Potential Loss of Coreopsis leavenworthii Genetic Diversity under Commercial Seed Production and Gene Flow from Coreopsis tinctoria (2006)

Graduate Student (PhD):  Sarah Smith (smith04@ufl.edu)

Advisor:  Zhanao Deng

Co-advisor: David Clark

Other faculty:  Fred Gmitter, Geoff Denny, Ken Quesenberry

Funding - Florida Wildflower Foundation

Status Report, May 2008  (PDF)