Performance of nine Florida native wildflower species grown in varying container substrates

Rising costs of container substrates and increased interest in use of native wildflowers for landscapes necessitates the continued evaluation of production methods. The composition of a container substrate can directly affect not only propagation success but also future growth, development, and establishment. Thus, a number of container substrates have been formulated and marketed for improved drainage, root distribution, and plant growth. We evaluated performance of 9 wildflower species native to Florida in 4 commercially available substrates. Within each substrate treatment, plants were evaluated in the greenhouse for 20 wk prior to an additional 40-wk landscape evaluation. Survival, performance, and flower duration varied by treatment and species.

Smith AM, Wilson SB, Thetford M, Nolan KL, Adams CR. 2014. Performance of nine Florida native wildflower species grown in varying container substrates. Native Plants Journal 15(1):75–86.