It’s hard to miss the clusters of lavender colored flowers that seem to be growing everywhere right now. That’s because they are an invasive wisteria, doing what invasive plants do best: growing everywhere.
Wisteria vine wrapped around tree trunk Photo: Tristan Hansford; Budwood.org
We often notice the invasive Chinese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) and Japanese wisteria (Wisteria Floribunda) in the early spring because of their fragrant and showy flowers. Look closely, and you’ll see thick vines wrapped around trees, decks, and other structures. This dense growth outcompetes native plants by taking up available light, nutrients, and space. Eventually the vines can even kill the trees and damage structures they grow on.
Look-Alike Alternatives
If you love the look of the invasive wisteria, consider planting the native American wisteria (Wisteria frutescens) to achieve a similar look, without damaging structures or ecosystems. American wisteria is a native plant and a larval host plant for butterflies and moths, including the long-tailed skipper. It grows well in USDA zones 5 to 9.
American Wisteria Photo courtesy of Robert H. Mohlenbrock, hosted by the USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA SCS. 1991.
Invasive wisteria has larger and less dense flower clusters. Photo: UF/IFAS Lauren Goldsby
Invasive Wisteria Removal
Use the lavender colored flowers in the spring to locate invasive wisteria in your landscape. Invasive wisteria has long flower clusters (up to 50cm) and seed pods that are covered in dense hairs. American wisteria has shorter (5-10cm), denser flower clusters and seed pods that are hairless. If the vine you see is growing aggressively in natural areas, it is likely an invasive wisteria. You can always reach out to your local Extension office for help with identification.
Cut the vine as close to the root as possible and apply glyphosate to the cut stem with a sponge or paintbrush. Invasive wisteria can spread from seeds and stems so be careful to remove all plant material and dispose of it in your garbage not your compost bin. If you do not want to apply herbicide you can still cut the main stem but will need to come back to remove sprouts or dig up and remove the root system.
For more recommendations on vining plants that won’t take over, check out this article: Versatile Vines
If you are out and about this time of year you may notice an interesting flowering shrub putting on a show of white flower heads. As time goes on the flower will develop into dark purple almost black fruit. You often find this shrub in forests, the edge of fields and pastures, and along roadsides. This attractive and very useful plant is the elderberry: Sambucus canadensis. It goes by the other common names of American or Common elderberry or simply elder or elder tree. It is native to North and South America from Canada to Brazil, and all over it’s range it is used by indigenous and local communities for a wide variety of uses. It has both food and beverage uses and medicinal uses. It grows in and tolerates a wide variety of conditions, and is quite easy to cultivate in the landscape or allow to thrive in wild areas. It also puts on a nice early summer flower show and is quite attractive. It can be weedy at times and is not always welcome in pastures as it can be toxic to livestock. Despite its medicinal applications and edible fruit, it bears caution as the leaves, twigs, roots, and unripe fruit are quite toxic to humans as well as bearing several toxic compounds not the least of which is glycosides which are in the cyanide family of chemicals. With care and knowledge though, the flowers and ripe fruits can be used and are frequently used to flavor beverages, dye food, make preserves and jellies, wine, and even many home remedies.
Naturally growing Elderberry in the Florida Panhandle. Photo Credit: Ian Stone
I have looked for and used this plant my whole life. My grandmother grew up on a very rural farm in Louisiana and passed on a whole host of information on useful plants and how to make a variety of home remedies. I was lucky to grow up with someone of a generation where they retained and passed on this knowledge. We never planted or grew elderberry as there was plenty growing wild all over my home area of Louisiana’s Florida Parishes. The same is true all across the Gulf Coast, and June is a good time to spot patches as it is putting on its show of white flowerheads. I always knew about its benefits and uses, and also it’s toxicity and learned much more about elderberry in forestry school. As time went on, I learned people were collecting this wild and also starting to cultivate and grow it as a crop. A family acquaintance in Livingston Parish, LA started a business growing elder and selling syrups, tinctures, and other products. I have even seen their products locally in the Panhandle now at herbal remedy and other stores. Now I go in even chain pharmacies and big box stores and see elderberry products produced on a large commercial scale. I’m glad to see a native plant develop into such a market. For the home landscape and garden, it can make an attractive edition that can then be added to the landscape and cultivated. You can enjoy the flowers and fruits yourself and make your own homemade products from them, or you can leave them for local wildlife that also benefit from them.
If you have a farm or property in the Panhandle it is likely elderberry is growing somewhere. If it is not on your property, you can easily plant and grow it in your garden, homestead, or home landscape. Be aware though it can be aggressive and spready in good growing conditions. It is also fast growing so you have to stay on top of it in cultivated settings. If you are looking to see if you have wild elderberry growing; look for the showy white flower heads on a small shrub to low tree. It has distinctive corky dots on its bark which are called lenticels. The leaves are pinnately compound with serrated margins. The fruit is bright green when unripe turning purple-black when ripe. Only fully ripe fruit are edible and safe, with a ripening period of mid to late summer. There now exists several cultivars of elderberry in the horticultural trade which are available at nurseries that stock native plants.
If you are interested in learning more about elderberry, check out this publication in the IFAS Gardening Solutions page https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/fruits/elderberry/. There is also a good EDIS publication available at this link https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/ST578. If you are planning on foraging wildflowers or berries and using them use caution, get a good knowledge of how to identify the plants, avoid poisonous parts and unripe berries. As with all wild foraging, only forage if you are well-informed on what you are looking for, dangerous look-a-likes, and how to avoid toxicity issues due to unripe fruit or toxic plant parts. With elderberry there are several severely toxic look-a-like plants, particularly the water hemlock one of the most toxic plants in North America. Use a good field guide and properly vetted resources and if in doubt do not gather or consume.
If you are planning on cultivating elderberry, consider selecting cultivars and varieties specifically for cultivation and fruit production. You will get better results over wild varieties, and fruit ripening will be more uniform making harvesting easier. In cultivated settings it will require care and monitoring for some pest and disease issues as well. It is well suited for marginal conditions where some other fruit options are limited and difficult to cultivate. It’s tolerance of a wide variety of growing conditions means there is likely a place in your garden or landscape that it can fit. An added benefit is that it requires less fertilization and intensive management compared to some other options. For more detailed information on cultivation see this EDIS article https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/HS1390.
Whether you have it growing naturally or are going to cultivate it, elderberry is a very attractive native plant with some beneficial and tasty uses. Elderberry wine, syrups, and preserves are quite tasty and provide many health benefits. Some people use the flower as a flavoring and to make tonics, but this requires caution to avoid poisonous parts contaminating batches. Elderberries are high in vitamin C and contain antioxidants and other medicinal compounds and are often used as cold and flu remedies as well as other ailments. If you do not have experience with making elder products at home; work with someone that is knowledgeable and experienced before making your own, especially with this plant. You can also buy certified products for sale in health stores and even at your local pharmacies now that are tested and known to be safe. Enjoy the attractiveness and usefulness of our native American Elderberry, it is a fascinatingly useful plant.
Florida’s diverse ecosystem is home to a variety of native plants that provide resources for local pollinators. Native flowers are not only a beautiful addition to any garden but also play a crucial role in maintaining the health of our environment. Planting native species supports the delicate balance of local ecosystems and promotes the survival of native pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Here are some native Florida flowers that are perfect for attracting and sustaining native pollinators.
Coreopsis (Coreopsis spp.)
October 2008 IFAS Extension Calendar Photo. Corey Yellow Coreopsis, flower. UF/IFAS Photo: Thomas Wright.
Coreopsis, also known as tickseed, is Florida’s state wildflower. These bright, yellow flowers are a favorite among native bees and butterflies. Coreopsis blooms from spring through fall, providing a long-lasting nectar source. They thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, making them an excellent choice for gardens and landscapes across the state.
Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
Rudbeckia hirta Photo Credit: Danielle Williams, UF/IFAS Extension Gadsden County
Black-eyed Susans are easily recognizable by their bright yellow petals and dark brown centers. These hardy perennials attract a variety of pollinators, including bees and butterflies. They are drought-tolerant and prefer full sun, making them a resilient addition to any garden.
Blanket Flower (Gaillardia pulchella)
Photo Credit: Beth Bolles, UF/IFAS Extension Escambia County
Blanket Flower, also known as Firewheel, can be found throughout Florida in dry, sandy soils and sunny conditions. It is also a hardy perennial and is known for its long blooming period from spring to fall. The red and yellow blooms are a perfect pollinator attractant, particularly bees and butterflies.
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Flowers and insects at the student gardens on the University of Florida campus. Pollinating bee. UF/IFAS Photo by Tyler Jones.
Purple coneflowers are not only striking with their large, purple petals and spiky centers but are also magnets for bees and butterflies. The nectar of this flower will attract a variation of bees, butterflies, and some hummingbirds, but the seeds that the coneflower produces can be eaten by wildlife. The purple coneflower is considered an endangered native Florida wildflower and can only be found naturally in Gadsden County.
American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)
While this is not a “traditional” wildflower, the beautyberry is an important native pollinator plant and food source for wildlife. The flowers are small in size and vary from light pink to lavender in color. The blooms open in late spring/early summer and produce a purple berry that can be an additional food source for birds and other animals.
By choosing to plant native wildflowers, you can create a vibrant and thriving garden or landscape bed that supports Florida’s native pollinators. For more information on Florida’s native wildflowers please visit:
In the late 1700’s, explorer and naturalist William Bartram and his father, the “King’s Botanist”—visited Pensacola and much of the southeastern United States. Curious observers of everything from plant growth and wildlife to Native American culture, they were also collectors. Countless American plant species were sent to Europe for further examination and later preserved in gardens and arboretums.
The Franklin tree no longer grows in the wild, but was originally discovered and named in the late 18th century near this spot in coastal Georgia. Photo credit: Carrie Stevenson, UF IFAS Extension
If it were not for their formidable observation skills, at least one species of unique native tree would be completely extinct. While traveling along the Georgia coast in 1765, the Bartrams recorded and named a species of small tree they’d never seen anywhere before. They christened it the “Franklin tree” for their friend and compatriot Benjamin Franklin. Known scientifically as Franklinia alatamaha (after Franklin and the nearby Altamaha River), its similarity to the loblolly bay tree landed it in the Gordonia genus for a while. References in the literature to this tree may include Gordonia alatamaha, Gordonia pubescens var. subglabra, or Lacathea florida, although it is now officially Franklinia alatamaha and considered part of the tea tree family.
The attractive bloom of the Franklin tree is reminiscent of magnolia flowers. Photo credit: Scott Zona, used with permission from NCSU Extension
William Bartram knew this species was unique, as he never saw the tree elsewhere in any of his extensive travels. He returned to the area in 1776, this time collecting seeds from the Franklin trees and propagating five of them successfully back at his home in Pennsylvania. The last time this species was seen in the wild was at the original wetland floodplain along the Altamaha River between 1790-1803. Now, the only Franklin trees in existence are all descendants of the seeds collected by William Bartram.
A sign in the Brunswick, GA marine extension office/demonstration garden explains the tree’s unique history. Photo credit: Carrie Stevenson, UF IFAS Extension
Their exact cause of extinction is not clear, but there are some solid theories. Land adjacent to the river was cleared for cotton farms, and the Franklin trees were vulnerable to a fungal pathogen that affects cotton. Based on the early records, the very small endemic population was particularly susceptible to habitat destruction and changing climatic conditions.
While no longer growing in the wild, the tree is mostly living in demonstration gardens and Arboretums on the east coast. However, it can be found in the nursery trade and grown in a large swath of the country if cared for properly. I was introduced to this species for the first time at the Brunswick, Georgia marine extension office. In addition to working with fishermen, they also educate residents on native landscaping and ways to prevent stormwater runoff and pollution. Over a span of a few years, they transformed the “front yard” of their office building from a turf lawn with a couple of oaks to a lush landscape full of flowers, shrubs, and pollinator insects. Included is a Franklin tree, with signage explaining its unique history. At about 15-20 feet tall, it has reached mature height. The original site of the Bartrams’ discovery is less than 20 miles from the garden location.
Just a few years ago, this lush garden consisted only of turf grass and a few live oak trees! Photo credit: Carrie Stevenson, UF IFAS Extension
Florida has a diverse array of birds. Warblers, raptors, shorebirds, and more may be spotted now in North Florida. Your yard or landscape can serve as an ideal habitat for wildlife, particularly birds. Even a modest quarter-acre plot can be intentionally designed to offer a supportive environment for a variety of birds. Transforming your backyard into a sanctuary for birds might allow you to witness these fascinating visitors firsthand.
“Rudbeckia’ photo by UF/IFAS
CONSIDER NATIVE PLANTS
Bring a touch of local charm to your yard by choosing native plant species whenever you can. Native birds have a natural connection with these plants, having evolved alongside them. What’s more, landscapes featuring Florida-native plants demand less attention and resources compared to those with non-native varieties. Native plants are well-suited to the local soil conditions, usually need less fertilizer, and boast better resilience against common pests and diseases. Embrace the beauty of native flora while making your yard a low-maintenance haven for both birds and nature.
“Snags” photo by UF/IFAS
MAKE SAFE COVER AVAILABLE
When trees face disease or reach the end of their life, think about leaving them as standing snags—imperfect yet invaluable shelters for wildlife to feed and nest. Additionally, creating a couple brush piles, especially near other plants, offers fantastic cover and feeding spots for birds. These piles not only provide a feeding opportunity for our feathered friends but also act as protective hideouts in open spaces. Embrace the natural cycle by turning aging trees and brush into welcoming havens for local wildlife.
INCLUDE A VARIETY OF LAYERS
Birds take to the skies, and for a thriving habitat, it’s essential to have various levels in your environment—tall trees, medium-sized trees, high and low shrubs, and groundcover. The more diversity, the better, as different bird species rely on different layers for their needs.
Tall trees play a crucial role, creating a sort of continuous woodland environment where birds can gracefully move from tree to tree. The choice of trees and shrubs you plant significantly influences the overall health of your landscape. Opt for species that suit your specific site and soil conditions to ensure a welcoming and supportive environment for our avian friends
“Birdbath” photo by UF/IFAS
ADD A WATER SOURCE
Water is a vital ingredient for wildlife environments, and birds reap the rewards from any water source you offer. It can be as easy as placing a shallow dish or bowl filled with water or adding a small fountain to your outdoor space. Just remember to switch out the water regularly to thwart mosquito breeding and ensure a clean and refreshing oasis for our feathered companions.
UTILIZE BIRD FEEDERS
A delightful way to connect with nature and witness birds up close is by using bird feeders. Not only does this provide an opportunity for observation, but it also supplements the natural food sources available to birds near your garden. For those interested in incorporating bird feeders, it’s important to remember proper care and maintenance. Neglected feeders can become breeding grounds for mold and bacteria, posing a risk to the health of the birds. A recommended practice is to clean feeders at least once every 1-2 weeks, or more frequently in wet or humid conditions, using a diluted bleach solution. For nectar feeders, a simple wash with soap and hot water is sufficient. Always ensure the feeders are thoroughly dry before refilling them with bird feed. This way, you not only create a welcoming space for our feathered friends but also ensure their well-being through responsible feeder care.
WINTER WANDERERS
Creating a bird-friendly backyard in North Florida is not only a satisfying project but also a meaningful way to help protect our feathered friends. By making smart choices in your landscaping, you can turn your outdoor space into a welcoming sanctuary for birds. The benefits are twofold: you get to enjoy the colorful variety of bird species visiting your backyard while also contributing to the conservation of biodiversity in the area. Let your backyard showcase the harmonious relationship between humans and nature’s nomads. For tips on landscaping that supports birds, reach out to your local county extensions office.
