Late fall in a Central Florida native wildflower garden

October is Florida native plant month, understandably so! But did you know there’s still a lot going on well into November? Here’s what is blooming as we enter the second week of November in the native plant garden at The Avian Reconditioning Center in Apopka Florida. These plants are covered in pollinators of all kinds and migratory birds perch on the fence as they decide who to pick off next. 

Chrysopsis mariana (Maryland goldenaster) is in full bloom and covered in a wide variety of pollinators from bees to butterflies. The stiff stems hold up the spent blooms of Ipomopis rubra (Standing cypress), Solidago odora var. chapmanii (Chapmans’ goldenrod) and Liatris laevigata (Cluster leaf blazing star)

 

Migratory birds rely upon small insects, caterpillars and seeds like those produced by the spent blooms of native plants. It’s a delight to watch birds climb Liatris stems like ladders as they clean the seeds off the wand like stems. When designing a habitat garden to include late season bloomers, you’ll be supporting not only birds but also migratory monarchs, over wintering bees and other species of insects that rely on these resources. 

Symphyotrichum concolor (Eastern silver aster) has vivid blue flowers that usually don’t appear until November. It’s an easy to grow aster naturally occurring in much of Florida. It’s a host plant for the Estigmene acrea (Salt marsh moth). 

 

A Danaus plexippus (Monarch butterfly) sits atop Carphephorus corymbosus (Florida paintbrush). Florida paintbrush, seen here amongst the seedheads of Phoebanthus grandiflorus, can bloom from late summer well into fall in Central Florida. 

 

Also in bloom now, Polygonum nesomii (Sandhill wire-weed) is starting to turn from white to shades of rust and rose. Sandhill wire weed is thriving here in these deep sandy soils, characteristic of the property. It is being visited by a wide variety of bees and wasps. To the left of the path is the center of the garden, planted with Garberia heterophylla (Garberia) and Sericocarpus tortifolius (Whitetop aster), both of which are slower growing and taking longer to fill in.

Polygonum nesomii (Sandhill wire-weed) and Pityopsis aequilifolia (Scrub goldenaster) are both late season bloomers.

 

Eriogonum tomentosum (Wild buckwheat) can bloom anytime from late summer to late fall. I've even seen it blooming on the trails in January. Seen here with Sporobolus junceus (Pineywoods dropseed) and Chrysopsis mariana (Maryland Goldenaster) in the background.

Eriogonum tomentosum (Wild buckwheat) above.

Garberia heterophylla (Garberia), is endemic to peninsular Florida, naturally occurring in scrub and xeric habitats, typically blooming in late fall.

The Avian Reconditioning Center in Apopka Florida is open to the public on Saturdays staring at 10:00 am, weather permitting. Please check out their website for more visitor information, educational programs and other experiences. And be sure to walk through the native plant garden when you visit! - Andrea