How to Identify Florida Wildflowers

Primrose willow

Florida has amazing wildflowers that I enjoy seeing while I'm out walking. Identifying them can be a challenge, but I like to know flowers by name. Here how to identify wildflowers in Florida.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• library card
• wildflower book
• digital camera

1. Blackroot

   If you have a basic knowledge of wildflowers, you'll recognize the basics like a thistle or goldenrod. There's a wealth of flowers across the state of Florida that go beyond basic.

2. Get your hands on some wildflower identification books. The local public library in Florida stocks these. Look in the 582 section or the Florida section or ask the librarian if you aren't finding them. Take the book along with you on your walk so you can look up the plants on the spot.

3. Yellow Batchelor's Button (I call them cheetos)

   Once you've tried several books, you'll find one that suits you best. Buy a copy online at a site like Amazon to keep handy. You'll always find new wildflowers to identify and you can't keep borrowing the library's copy forever. Take it back so someone else can use it.

4. Unknown ??

   Capture the details of the flower with your digital camera. Use the macro button to take a close-up of the blossom. Get a second shot that shows the whole plant (leaves, flower, growth pattern).
   Move the photos onto your computer and bring them up full-screen for best viewing.

5. Sundew (look close to the ground for this one)

   Now open another window and go to an online identification site for Florida wildflowers.
   Add this online identification site to your Favorites or Bookmarks:
   http://www.flwildflowers.com/pictures.html (clickable link below)

6. There are many variations of this pea type

   There are many wildflowers that look pretty similar. Their growth habit (bush or plant or vine, upright, or creeping), size, leaf type, and other details are needed to really tell them apart.

7. Liatris family?

   If you can't find an exact match, look for similar flower shapes in the books and online. Yours may be from that same family.

Resources

• Photo Index to Florida Wildflowers