Favorite Plants for Wildlife

I asked some of Brevard County's local plant experts to recommend their top ten plants for wildlife and this is what they said!   Select plant name for more information.
(Plant links from Floridata.com and enature.com, when available)

Sally Scalera's top ten favorite plants for wildlife: Firebush (Hamelia patens) Red flowers a terrific nectar source for hummingbirds and butterflies Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) attracts hummingbirds Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) Pleasing Purple fruit and a nice shade of green for the foliage. Cover for animals attracts birds Necklace pod (Sophora tomentosa) attracts hummingbirds and insects that attract vireos and warblers Florida privet (Forestiera segregata) attracts birds Walter's viburnum (Viburnum obovatum) attracts butterflies and bees Southern Red cedar (Juniperus silicicola) the female trees produce berries that attracts birds and all S. red cedars provide nesting areas and cover for birds Fringe tree (Chionanthus virginicus) has fragrant flowers in the spring and produces berries for the birds Coral bean (Erythrina herbacea) attracts hummingbirds Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) is a host plant for Monarch and Queen butterflies plus it is a nectar plant for all butterflies **Sally Scalera is a Horticultural Agent for the University of Florida Extension Service in Brevard County

Sharon Dolan's top ten native plants for wildlife: Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) - nectar, berries Yaupon Holly( Ilex vomitoria) - berries, shelter, nesting Firebush (Hamelia patens) - shelter, nectar for butterflies & hummingbirds, berries Walter's viburnum (Viburnum obovatum) - nesting, cover, berries Florida privet (Forestiera segregata) - cover, berries, nectar Simpsons Stoppers (Myrcianthes fragrans) - cover, nectar, berries Passion Flower (Passiflora incarnata) - butterfly host plant Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) - nectar, cover, berries S. Fl. Slash Pines (Pinus elliotti var. densa) E. Gamma Grass (Tripsacum dactyloides) - cover and seed **Sharon Dolan, along with her husband Brent, own a Native Plant nursery in Melbourne, Florida

Travis MacClendon's Top Ten Native Plants for Wildlife CANOPY-- 1) Hercules Club (Zanthoxylum clava-hercules) -- Grows fast and is larval food for swallowtail butterflies-- In the Citrus family 2) Blue-jack Oak (Quercus incana)-- Beautiful color - great shade - food for animals 3) Red Mulberry (Morus rubra) -- Fast growing, shade tree - food for me and the other animals MID-STORY-- 4) *American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) 5) American Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) -- Big green wavy leaves and lots of berries for the birds 5.5) *Firebush (Hamelia patens) - GROUND COVER-- 6) Sunshine Mimosa (Mimosa strigulosa) -- Gorgeous puff ball flowers- Bees and wasps really go for it 7) Lyreleaf Sage (Salvia lyrata) -- Grows anywhere and reseeds easily- Blue flowers that many insects seem to like 8) Leavenworth's Tickseed (Coreopsis leavenworthii)-- Our state wild flower- endemic- Brightens up any landscape with yellow 9) Corkystem Passionflower (Passiflora suberosa) --Larval food for Zebra Longwing and Gulf Fritillary 10) *Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) **Travis MacClendon is a prominent member of one of the Conradina Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society