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.

wildflowers wildflower seeds

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 (2004-2007)

Graduate Student (PhD): Anne Frances.
Co-advisor: Carrie Reinhardt-Adams.
Other Faculty: Sandy Wilson, Debbie Miller, Doria Gordon.

Quarterly Report for Contract No. BD545-26 (May 2006) - Native Roadside Wildflowers in Rural Areas: Developing Best Management Practices for Establishment of Plantings by Seed and Enhancement of Naturally-Occurring Populations [200KB pdf]

  • 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.

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)
CCAP 2005-2006 Status Report (June 22, 2006) [132KB 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.
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)

Native Wildflower Seed Production: An Alternative Commodity for Tobacco Growers (May 2004) [436KB 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)
Final Report (January 2006) - Treatment and Germination of Florida Native Wildflower Seeds for Commercial Production and Natural Landscaping [224KB pdf]


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

Funding - Center for Cooperative Agricultural Programs (CCAP)
CCAP 2004-2005 Final Report (November 30, 2005) [120KB 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: Abstract, with link to Full Text [5.22MB pdf]
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 WilsonSandy Wilson
Thesis: Abstract, with link to Full Text [756KB pdf]
Information about Dissertations & Theses Digitized at UF


Molecular and Morphological Diversity of Coreopsis leavenworthii, a Florida Wildflower (2006)

Graduate Student (MS): David M. Czarnecki, II
Advisor: Zhanao Deng
Thesis: Abstract, with link to Full Text [380KB pdf]
Information about Dissertations & Theses Digitized at UF
Funding - Florida Wildflower Advisory Council
Summary [KB pdf]


Wildflower Seed Production Resources

Pest Alerts

Florida Wildflower Marketing & Development Information

Wildflower Research & Extension Publications

More Information

For more information on Wildflowers, contact Gary Knox.

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