EDGEWATER, Fla. — Florida is one of the most biodiverse states in the country. It’s home to more than 3,000 native plant species, according to the University of South Florida’s Atlas of Florida Plants. Native plants protect our shorelines, and provide habitat and food for wildlife.

What You Need To Know

  • Native plants provide food and shelter to bees, birds, deer and hundreds of other wildlife species

  • Invasive plants can out-compete native plants and disturb ecosystems

  • Volusia County Environmental Specialist Holly Giles teaches new Floridians about the importance of using native plants instead of invasive ones in her “Plant like a Floridian” workshops

  • Her next workshop is Thursday, Sept. 12, at the Edgewater Public Library from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

In Volusia County, Environmental Specialist Holly Giles teaches people about the importance of native plants in her monthly “Plant like a Floridian” workshops. Giles teaches people how to landscape in a way that best preserves Florida’s environment. With more than 1,200 people moving to the state each day, her workshops help new Floridians.

“Being able to help them get excited about living here in Florida is really just what I love to do,” she said.

Giles is the Volunteer Specialist for the county’s Be Floridian Now and Green Volusia programs. She’s a fourth-generation Floridian who grew up near the Indian River Lagoon. She said it made her appreciate Florida’s environment, and all that makes it special — something she loves to share with others. 

“To give them some encouragement on how they can work with their landscape and really work with Florida’s unique environment and not against it,” she said. “That goes a long way in helping our environment and ecosystem over time.”

In her workshops, she teaches people how to use native plants in their yards and why it’s important. Native plants occur naturally in Florida. Examples include all three of Florida’s mangrove species, saw palmetto, Southern magnolia, railroad vine and thousands of other species. Native plants protect our shorelines. They also provide food and shelter to hundreds of wildlife species, including pollinators like birds, bees and butterflies. 

“We have hundreds of native pollinators here in Florida that rely on very specific native plants,” Giles said. “So, if we’re not providing those plants, we’re going to lose those pollinators. That really has a trickle down effect even to the food that we eat.” 

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, one out of every three bites of food we take exists because of pollinators. Giles said it’s important to be aware of which plants are native — and which ones are not. One common example is Mexican petunia. 

“This is a very popular plant that you can buy at any nursery or big box store.” Giles said. “It’ll say Florida-grown and Florida-friendly, but in reality, it’s not.”

Giles said Mexican petunia is a Category One invasive, which means it can reduce food and habitat for wildlife by overtaking native plants.

“It will actually out-compete with our natives so that they won’t grow,” she said. “It’ll suppress them. So, this is very important not to grow in your yard or, if you have it, to get rid of it.”

Giles recommends swapping out invasive plants for native ones. Her favorite alternative is Beautyberry.

“This one has gorgeous purple berries on it,” Giles said. “These berries become winter food for wildlife and birds.”

Giles said Beautyberry is drought-tolerant and bug-resistant, so much so that you can use its leaves to make a natural bug spray.

“Native Americans used these and they would crush the leaf and rub it on their skin for the bug repellent,” she said.

Another aspect of planting like a Floridian is fertilizing like one, too. From June 1 to Sept. 30, Volusia County bans fertilizers with nitrogen and phosphorus because summer rains can wash them into waterways. From October to May, slow release fertilizer is required.

“In Volusia County, the number one thing is you always want to choose fertilizer that has 50% slow release nitrogen,” Giles said about fertilizing from October to May. “We can’t control what’s sold in our big box stores, but we can inform you what’s best to use here in Florida.” 

Giles said properly fertilizing and using native plants can make a huge impact on our ecosystems. 

“We all can’t save the world in our backyard, all at one time but if we do just one thing, choose one non-native in your yard and replace it with one native, and that really makes a huge impact,” she said.

Giles said planting like a Floridian can help preserve the things we love most about our state. Her next “Plant like a Floridian” workshop is on Thursday, Sept. 12 at the Edgewater Public Library from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Anyone interested can register online here. Giles said she holds workshops every month. To see the next event, visit Green Volusia’s Eventbrite page.

Reagan Ryan is a 2023 — 2025 Report for America Corps Member, covering the environment and climate across Central Florida for Spectrum News 13. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues.