Florida may be most well known for its beaches, food, and tourist attractions such as the Universal Resort and DisneyWorld, but this southern state is also sprawling with natural landscapes that contain some very unique and exotic flowers.
Whether it’s flowers that are big and bold, or more delicate and colorful, there is a whole range of flowers that you can admire during your visit to Florida, and considering just how busy the streets of Florida tend to be, especially during the warmer months, it’s never a bad idea to take some time out of your day to admire all the natural beauty that this state has to offer.
With that being said, here are 8 jaw-dropping flowers that you should definitely keep an eye out for the next time you’re in the big, bright, and bustling state of Florida.
1) Wild Coffee
The wild coffee is a wildflower that can definitely be fairly difficult to spot, not only because of its small stature but also because it prefers to hide away in shady areas, which is why you will usually find it sprouting in hedges more than anywhere else.
These soft and delicate creamy white flowers grow in small clusters and are surrounded by shiny leaves. They tend to grow best in moist soil, however, they are also known for being very versatile and will still thrive and develop in drier conditions.
These flowers are a favorite among butterflies which can often make the flower a lot easier to spot.
If you are on the lookout for the wild coffee plant, you’ll be happy to know that they are very commonly found in coastal uplands, pine flatwoods, and hardwood forests in many different counties including Charlotte, Citrus, and Palm Beach.
2) Seaside Goldenrod
Bright, beautiful, and immediately recognizable, the seaside goldenrod is a very unique flower that features alternate leaves which are covered in terminal clusters of small, but very colorful yellow flowers that sprout out from the tall leafy stalks.
Because of this, they can usually be found hunching over rather than growing upright, and their glamorous appearance makes them very attractive to butterflies and other types of pollinators.
These flowers enjoy being exposed to the sunlight as much as possible, but their preferred soil type is dry but also moist, meaning you can still commonly find them in flatwoods and forests, along with coastal areas.
Wide open fields and landscapes in Hernando, Lee, Pinellas, and Brevard are where you’re most likely to see these gorgeous flowers, but they really can grow anywhere that they can get a good amount of sunlight throughout the day.
3) Purple Thistle
While a lot of the flowers that grow across Florida can often be quite small and harder to notice, this certainly isn’t the case with the purple thistle, which has such an unusual appearance that it begs to be analyzed up close by anyone who walks past it.
The 3-feet high spike flower has a large and flashy pink bristly section that rests on the top which can sometimes be a whitish-yellow in its color, but whichever color palette it chooses, you can spot it from a mile away.
On top of this, the purple thistle loves to be exposed to as much sunlight as possible, and since it can adapt to virtually any type of soil, whether it’s moist, dry, or sandy, it can be found in many different areas around Florida and is considered to be very common.
You are most likely to find this flower in pineland and prairies, however, many people have also reported having seen it across roadsides too.
4) Summer Farewell
Just as the name suggests, this flower starts to bloom right at the end of the summer, and can commonly be seen making its home in sandhills during the fall months. It tends to grow in direct sunlight, and it adapts very well to humid and dry conditions.
The dense compound leaves and bushy terminal heads of the flower make the summer farewell very noticeable, despite it growing no higher than 3 feet.
It is a wonderful addition to any wildflower garden, as long as it is planted in sandy soil, it will remain healthy and mature and develop as it should.
If you’re having a little trouble spotting this flower in sandhills, it will also commonly appear in flatwoods and scrub habitats across most counties in Florida.
5) Snow Squarestem
The name of this flower doesn’t necessarily refer to the fact that it can grow during the winter, but it has more to do with its bright white appearance which is surrounded by toothed opposite leaves that wrap around the small cluster of flowers.
Not only is the color very prominent and flashy, making this one of the easier Floridian wildflowers to spot, but it can also grow up to 6 feet high, so you will commonly see it sprouting over the top of bushes or out from behind a tree since it loves to reside in forests and waste grounds across the roads.
It is actually incredibly easy to grow and care for, despite how intimidating it can be at first sight, and will adapt well to moist, dry, well-drained, sandy, and even limestone soils.
6) Indian Blanket
While the Indian blanket flower blooms all year round, it peaks in the spring and summer, and it’s during these months that the medley of colors that this flower is so beloved for will be at their brightest and boldest.
Speaking of their colors, you really won’t find many flowers that are as exotic and intriguing in their appearance as the Indian blanket, with their large daisy-like appearance containing a dark purple center which then turns into a very delicate pinkish red as it extends outwards, before finally becoming a gorgeous yellow around the tips.
The flower can only grow up to 2 feet high, and since it tends to poke out of greenery to reach the sunlight, you might have to do a little bit of exploring to see one up close and personal for yourself, but trust us, it’s well worth it in the end.
The Indian blanket flower grows in both well-drained and sandy soils, and the areas across Florida where it has been most commonly spotted include Hernando, Lafayette, Wakulla, Franklin, and Indian River.
7) Mistflower
While the mistflower can look very delicate and innocent due to its warm and colorful appearance, it is actually considered a fairly aggressive plant, meaning that it will spread at an extremely rapid rate once it has been planted.
Because of this, you’re unlikely to see just one mistflower branch growing on its own. Instead, they will tend to grow in large groups with multiple clusters growing alongside each other, which is definitely a benefit when you’re trying to search for them.
The mistflower is triangular in its shape alongside being bluntly toothed, and if you’re questioning its color, it is technically a very light shade of blue, but it can easily be mistaken for purple or lilac.
Hardwood forests and wetlands are the areas you will want to visit to try and catch a glimpse at these unique and interesting flowers, or you can simply pay a visit to the Apalachicola National Forest where they can be seen around nearly every corner.
8) Coastal Mock Vervain
The coastal mock vervain is one of the few flowers that are actually under threat and becoming more uncommon in Florida, and while it can still be found growing in many different environments including coastal uplands, flatwoods, and forests, it is starting to become a lot harder to come by, which is a shame considering how beautiful it is.
The small flat-topped clustered purple flowers have very tiny white and yellow circles at their center, and while they bloom throughout the year, they are most prominent during the spring and summer.
Their leaves are dark green, ovate, and extremely glossy, which only helps to make these gorgeous flowers even more dazzling to look at, and since they are so small, they also make for a great ground cover.
They are primarily found on Florida’s east coast where they grow in sandy soils, so if you’re up for embarking on a journey to see them for yourself, your best bet is visiting eastern counties like Brevard, Collier, Flagler, Hendry, and Indian River.
Summary
After you’re done relaxing on the beach and admiring the sea, or taking a trip to the many theme parks and attractions dotted around Florida, make sure to take a break and admire the natural beauty that the state also has to offer, because there’s certainly no shortage of it, especially when it comes to flowers.
Whether you like the idea of traveling just outside of the city to see some flowers, or you want to undertake a fun adventure with your friends and family to spot some rare and unique ones, there are plenty out there for you to see for yourself.
I love sharing my experiences with individuals in this community, and I enjoy sharing some of the best tips I have learned over the years caring for my own garden at home.
In my articles, you will find the best flowers, most fragrant flowers you can plant in your garden, how to care for your favorite plants, informative guides and how-tos so you can have the best backyard in town!
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