LANDSCAPING FOR WILDLIFE - Polk County Extension Office
LANDSCAPING FOR WILDLIFE All Animals Need: Food Cover Water Space Habitat Animals will only reside or forage in an area that contains enough of these four essential elements to maintain daily activities. Food Fruit Seeds Insects Attract a variety Nectar of birds, reptiles, bats, butterflies Larval and other insects Meat Remember to provide food year-round, especially in winter. Fruit Bearing Plants Golden Dewdrop Duranta erecta Wild grape Vitis sp. Beautyberry Calicarpa americana Mulberry Morus rubra Large native tree ~ 40 ft Full sun Throughout Florida Edible fruit in spring Brittle bark, messy (USDA Zone 5-9) Chickasaw Plum (USDA Zone 8-10) Prunus angustifolia Native tree ~10 ft Full to partial sun Blooms early spring Edible fruit Suckers tend to form thickets Holly Ilex spp. (USDA Zone 6-9) Native shrubs and trees Sun to partial shade Gallberry Range varies Fruit remains through winter, attracting birds Salt, drought and shade tolerant Suckers Ilex glabra Dahoon Holly Ilex cassine Virginia Willow Itea virginica (USDA Zone 6-10A) Native shrub ~ 7 ft Full to partial sun Blooms spring Drought and flood tolerant Suckers tend to form thickets Elderberry Sambucus canadensis (USDA Zone 3-7) Native shrub ~15 ft Full to partial sun Throughout Florida Fragrant flowers year-round Edible fruit Florida Privet Forestiera segregata (USDA Zone 9-11) Native shrub ~10 ft Full to partial sun Throughout Florida Fast grower Drought and salt tolerant Dense cover and fruits attract birds Nectar Plants Cardinal flower Lobelia cardinalis Coneflower Echinacea purpurea Buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis Golden Dew Drop Duranta repens (USDA Zone 8-11) Shrub ~ 14 feet Full to partial sun Blooms year- round Throughout Florida High drought tolerance Attracts butterflies Porterweed Stachytarpheta jamaicensis (USDA Zone 8-11) Native and non-native perennial ~ 4 ft Full to partial sun Blooms year-round Medium salt and drought tolerance Red variety is non-native Coral Honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens (USDA Zone 6-9A) Native vine Full to partial sun Blooms spring- fall Throughout Florida Attract butterflies and hummingbirds Larval Plants Matchweed, Phyla nodiflora is the larval host of the Buckeye. Willow, Salix caroliniana is a larval host of the Viceroy. Red Bay Persia borbonia (USDA Zone 7-10B) Native tree ~ 40 ft Full to partial sun Throughout Florida Drought and salt tolerant Blooms in spring attract butterflies Purple fruit attract birds Bays are larval food for the spicebush swallowtail. Joe Schaefer Milkweed Asclepias spp. (USDA Zone 8-10A) Shrub ~ 4 ft Natives available Full to partial sun Blooms year-round Throughout Florida Drought tolerant Nectar attracts hummingbirds and butterflies Larval host of Monarch and Queen Passion flower Passiflora spp. (USDA Zone 6-11) Vine Native varieties available Full to partial sun Blooms yearround Throughout Florida Larval host of Gulf Fritillary Coontie Zamia pumila (USDA Zone 9-11) Native shrub ~ 3 ft Full-partial sun Salt and drought tolerant Throughout Florida Insignificant bloom Larval host of Atala butterfly, found only in southeast Florida. Dutchman’s Pipe Aristolochia spp. (USDA Zone 8-11) Vine Full to partial sun Blooms summer-fall Medium drought tolerance Larval host of Pipevine swallowtail Senna (syn. Cassia) Senna spp. Chapman’s Senna Senna mexicana var. chapmanii (USDA Zone 10-11) Native and non-native shrubs ~ 6-10 ft Full to partial sun Blooms Fast fall- spring growing, short-lived Larval host of Sulphurs Desert Cassia Senna polyphylla (non-native) Cover Vertical layers Evergreen species for winter cover Standing dead trees, or “snags” Brush pile Water Permanent water feature Sound of running water attracts many animals PuddlingButterflies obtain water and minerals from liquid in pore spaces. Puddling station Sandra Granson Design a Puddling Station 1. Layer sand in saucer 2. Add layer of compost 3. Place pebbles on top 4. Add water slowly (to pebble layer) 5. Place saucer on upside down pot Birdbath Shallow with mildly sloping sides Rough surface Keep clean Rinse off any soap residue Audubon Society recommends changing the water and cleaning bird baths weekly to avoid spreading avian diseases. Managing for Wildlife Vertical layers of vegetation Plant natives No pesticides! Stop mowing- Weeds add wildlife value to your yard! Bidens alba Long-tailed skipper feeding on Spanish needle. Coreopsis Coreopsis spp. Horsemint Monarda punctata Wild Wonderful Weeds Pokeweed Phytolacca americana Blanket flower Gaillardia pulchella Tolerance of Nuisance Animals Diggers Herbivores (moles, gophers, squirrels, armadillos, tortoises) (deer, rabbits, ducks) Bring nutrient to surface Loosen & aerate soil on turf and landscape pests Contribute to food web, circle of life Nets and fencing may protect fruits Harassment or nest removal for non-natives Feed Trapping and deterrents Pocket Gopher Armadillo Marsh rabbit More Wild Information Florida Cooperative Extension Service Wildlife Program www.wec.ufl.edu/extension Print on demand Links and information Educational programs Florida Wildlife Habitat Program Local Audubon Society Polk County Extension Service Contact us: UF/IFAS Polk County Extension Service 1702 Highway 17 South, Bartow Phone: (863) 519-8677 Websites: http://polkfyn.ifas.ufl.edu http://polkhort.ifas.ufl.edu http://polk.ifas.ufl.edu
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