Habitat is key to bringing in birds and other wildlife.
If you build it, they WILL come!
 

     The key to habitat is using keystone native plants. If you’re a regular reader of this series then you know that keystone species are the plants that are native to our area and host the most wildlife. Since we’re limited on the number of native plants we can place in our yards, this is the way to make the biggest positive difference. 
Native shade trees like oaks, maples and hickories are at the top of the keystone list, with oaks sitting at number one (Doug Tallamy’s keystone species’ list). Each oak supports over 436 native butterflies and moths alone.

     If you already have an oak or you don’t have enough room for a large shade tree, then add understory trees. Understory trees, like Flatwood Plums, Chickasaw Plums and Cherry Laurels, are smaller trees that like living in the shade of the canopy trees. The genus, Prunus, which includes the plums previously mentioned, supports 340 different species of butterflies. River Birch is right behind the plums hosting 284 species.
Check out the National Wildlife Federation’s Plant Finder and you will see which trees, shrubs and perennials host which butterflies and how many.

     Diversity is key to designing a productive and pretty yard- diversity of plants, diversity of heights, colors, bloom times and textures. A good landscape designer knows that a little repetition is meaningful, but don’t take it too far or it gets boring. Too much also takes away from your opportunities at diversity, limiting what wildlife you can attract to your yard. For example, if you need a hedge, instead of one long line of ligustrum or other nonnative shrub, think native shrubs like Walter’s Viburnum, Shiny Blueberry, Simpson’s Stopper, Red Anise, native Privet, native Holly, Elderberry and Arrowwood. Grouping each of these different species together in groups of 3-5 will look great and bring in a more diverse group of birds and butterflies.

     Make large beds in your yard, especially underneath large, shade trees. To get rid of the turf grass, don’t dig it out; instead, cover it with cardboard, newspaper, and mulch. Then walk away and enjoy yourself! This will enlarge your bed with the least work and increase ground fertility at the same time. Large beds under trees create habitat for the beneficial insects you’re trying to attract like fireflies that drop from tree to ground and then burrow in your leaf cover or twigs. Add native shrubs like the blueberry bushes, Summersweet, Sweet Shrub and native azaleas to your bed. Ground covers like Frog fruit, Twin Flower and Blue-Eyed Grass add even more host plants and more diversity. They’re beautiful too.

     If you have an apartment, consider adding pots on your balcony and filling them with natives. Research shows that butterflies and bees will fly many stories up looking for their host plants. As you add more and more host natives, you will see more and more butterflies which will stay in your area longer since you’ve got their host plants. You’ll also get a bigger diversity of birds who can now find their favorite insect meals. It’s a win-win for us all!!   -Written by Lisa Williams

 

1. Wacca Pilatka LLC   (design and installation available)
904-859-4033
Waccapilatka.com
keepingfloridawild@gmail.com

2. Native & Uncommon Plants
904-388-9851
Goingnativejax@gmail.com
http://www.nativeanduncommonplants.com/

3. Chiappini Farm Native Nursery    
352-475-5413
https://chiappinifarm.com/

4. Native Plant Consulting (design and installation available)
904-671-2880
nativeplantconsulting.com

5. Garden For Wildlife
www.GardenforWildlife.com       

6. Mail Order Natives (online only)
www.mailordernatives.com
mailordernatives@gmail.com
Use code SIERRACLUB10 for $10 off for any purchase (One-time only; No expiration)

7. Bella Jardins Boutique
Order online and she delivers.
https://bellajardins.boutique/

8. Lark Native Plants
https://larknativeplants.com/index.html

9.  Audubon's website Plants for Birds
https://www.audubon.org/plantsforbirds

10. Green Isle Gardens
https://www.greenislegardens.com/retail.html#/

Homegrown National Park - Join Doug Tallamy’s quest to turn half of all turf grass into native plantings.  Register your yard here: https://homegrownnationalpark.org/

Florida Native Plant Society - For all kinds of info on native plants including Finding Plants Based on Your Location and Needs: https://www.fnps.org/plants

IXIA Native Plant Society - For info on our local native plant society: https://ixia.fnpschapters.org/