Food. Native plants provide food for the whole food chain - from insects to birds of prey.
Water. Ponds and bird baths are great ways to provide water to wildlife. Add pebbles to bird baths to provide safe shallow areas for insects.
Shelter and space to raise young.
Key:
Provides food for bees: (Bee)
Provides food for butterflies and/or moths: (Butterfly)
Provides food for hummingbirds: (Hummingbird)
Provides food for ducks and/or waterfowl: (Duck)
Provides food or nesting cover for songbirds: (Bird)
Provides food for ground-nesting birds (northern bobwhite quail, wild turkey): (Turkey)
Provides food or cover for gopher tortoises and/or other reptiles and amphibians: (Turtle)
Provides food for medium-sized mammals such as foxes, opossums, rabbits, and squirrels: (Squirrel)
Provides food for large mammals such as deer and/or bears
| Common Name (Latin Name) | Growing Conditions | Benefits to Wildlife |
|---|---|---|
| American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) | Partial shade; well-drained soil. Grows up to 5' tall and 5' wide. | Fruit for songbirds, quail, foxes, opossums, raccoons; browse for deer (purple berries in late summer and fall)
(Bird) (Squirrel) (Turkey) (Bear) |
| Coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) | Full sun to partial shade; well-drained soil | Nectar and pollen for butterflies, hummingbirds; berries for songbirds; browse for deer (red flowers in summer; red fruits in fall)
(Bird) (Hummingbird) (Butterfly) (Bear) |
| Hollies (Ilex cassine, I. decidua, I. glabra, I. volitoria) | Full sun to partial shade; well-drained to wet soil | Nectar and pollen for bees; berries for songbirds, quail, turkeys, raccoons, coyotes, opossums; forage for gopher tortoises; browse for deer, rabbits (inconspicuous white flowers in summer; fruits in fall/winter)
(Bee) (Bird) (Turkey) (Turtle) (Squirrel) (Bear) |
| Oaks (Quercus alba, Q. inopina, Q. laurifolia, Q. virginiana) | Full sun to partial shade; well-drained soil | Acorns for ducks, quail, turkeys, squirrels, rabbits, bears, deer; browse for deer, rabbits; nesting cover for songbirds (acorns in fall/winter)
(Duck) (Turkey) (Bear) (Squirrel) (Bird) |
| Orange coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida) | Full sun to partial shade; well-drained soil. Grows up to 3' tall. | Nectar and pollen for bees, butterflies; seeds for songbirds; forage for gopher tortoises (yellow flowers in summer; seeds in fall)
(Bee) (Butterfly) (Bird) (Turtle) |
| Tickseeds (Coreopsis floridana, C. integrifolia, C. lanceolata) | Full sun to partial shade. Species vary in soil tolerance. Grows up to 4' tall, 2' wide | Nectar and pollen for bees, butterflies; forage for gopher tortoises, deer (yellow flowers summer-fall)
(Bee) (Butterfly) (Turtle) (Bear) |
| Vacciniums (Vaccinium arboreum, V. corymbosum, V. myrsinities) | Full sun to partial shade; well-drained soil | Nectar and pollen for bees; berries for songbirds, quail, turkeys, gopher tortoises, rabbits, squirrels, bears, deer.
(Bee) (Bird) (Turkey) (Turtle) (Squirrel) (Bear) |
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Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program; Developed from EDIS WEC339