Plant Selection Guides

Mary Christine Bammer, William H Kern, and Jamie D. Ellis

Several factors influence the flora throughout Florida, including annual freezes, average temperature, annual rainfall, and soil composition. Because of these variations, plants that grow well in one region may not grow well in another. Climate, plant communities, and timing of floral resources differ significantly between the three main regions in Florida: North Florida, Central Florida, and South Florida. While many plants are acceptable pollen producers for honey bees, fewer yield enough nectar to produce a surplus honey crop. As such, the tables in this document list the nectar-bearing plants that are present to some degree in each region and the plants' respective bloom times.

Geoffrey Denny, Geoffrey Denny, andGail Hansen
Other Contacts: Keighly Graves

J. Douglas Doran, Jennifer M. Fill, Raelene M. Crandall, Cotton K. Randall, and Alan J. Long

For homeowners who live in an area with a medium to high risk of wildfire, creating an area of defensible space is crucial for protecting houses and other structures. The movement of a wildfire is controlled primarily by the flammability of the plants present and how those plants are arranged, both vertically and horizontally. This publication details how the structure and composition of the vegetation, from leaf to the whole plant, affect the likelihood that a fire will ignite and spread. It also describes how plants' horizontal and vertical arrangement can affect wildfire ignition and spread near homes, concluding with recommendations for firewise landscaping.

Mack Thetford and Mary Salinas

A UF/IFAS numbered peer reviewed Fact Sheet. in support of UF/IFAS Extension program: Urban Water