Helpful Guides for Florida Gardening & Landscaping
Simple, practical guides to help you choose plants that thrive here and make your landscape easier to care for. Created by our team based on decades of growing experience in Tampa Bay.
Let’s Dig In for Some
‘Guided’ Fun!
Whether you’re starting a new landscape or improving what you have, these guides are designed to make the process easier. Each resource focuses on what works in our climate, helping you choose plants that thrive and reduce the guesswork along the way.
Featured Resources
Gardening for Birds Using Florida Native Plants
To attract birds to your yard, think about creating a habitat with food, shelter, and water to meet the needs of both nesting and migratory birds.
Explore Our Gardening & Landscape Guides
Aquatic Wildflowers for Pollinators
Florida is a great place to garden near or in water with native wildflowers and plants.
Reduce Water Pollution with Bioswales and Rain Gardens
Bioswales and Rain Gardens are an alternative to turf stormwater drainage ditches using native vegetation.
Collecting and Sowing Wildflower Seeds
One of the easiest methods of supplying new wildflowers for your yard is by growing..
Understanding COMAND Products
COMAND is compost made from 75% green waste…
Create a Pollinator Pot
The insects that pollinate our food crops and natural areas are in steep decline.
Designing a Hedge Using Florida Native Plants
When planning your hedge there are several things to thing about before you start buying.
Florida Native Plants for Bees
This is a list of plants carried at Wilcox Nursery that are especially attractive to bees.
Gardening for Birds using Florida Native Plants
To attract birds to your yard, think about creating a habitat with food, shelter, and water..
Gardening for Birds by Season
The lifecycle of birds is very closely linked to insects, especially caterpillars.
Grass Removal Methods
This method avoids using herbicides. It is very effective to remove all vegetation for large areas.
Native Grasses and Groundcovers
Level up your lawn with native grasses and groundcovers! Traditional turf lawns require excessive water use, fertilizers..
Guide for Choosing Native Plants
This guide features over 125 wildflowers, shrubs, vines and grasses that are native to Florida..
Butterfly Host Plants for Tampa Bay
Grasses and Groundcovers…
Houseplant Watering Guide
We wish we could give you an exact watering schedule, unfortunately..
Keystone Native Plants
Native plants have tight relationships with wildlife, formed over many thousands of years, providing natural sources..
Keystone Trees
A keystone plant species is a plant that supports the life cycle of many species.
Eastern Lubber Grasshoppers
Eastern Lubber are a NATIVE grasshopper that plays a vital role in Florida’s ecosystem.
Monarchs and Milkweeds
Monarchs have evolved over thousands of years with the native milkweed plants upon which they depend.
Native Garden Maintenance
We answer some common questions about maintenance on native gardens.
Wilcox Planting and Watering Guide
The planting site should provide the proper light, moisture, and drainage for your plant.
Protect the Bay (Fertilizer Alternatives)
Every summer, Tampa Bay enters an intense season of high…
Raised Bed Garden Soil
There is more than one way to build raised bed soil.
PROPER Sabal Palm Pruning
Harsh pruning takes away food and shelter from native migratory songbirds, woodpeckers, butterflies..
Salt Tolerant Native Plants
Living on the coast of Florida offers numerous advantages, from breathtaking ocean views to a mild climate.
Seeding Dates for Grasses and Wildflowers
Florida’s native wildflowers and plants are essential to the pollinators we depend on.
Top Pollinator and Host Plants
Our best native plants for attracting pollinators!
Milkweed Statement and FAQ's
As a native nursery that is working to support our natural ecosystems, we recommend planting only native..
Starting a Wildflower Garden from Seed
Florida’s native wildflowers and plants are essential to the pollinators we depend on.
Wildflowers for Dry Landscapes
Many Florida landscapes have sandy soils that are naturally dry and well-drained, even after heavy rain.
Wildflowers for Shade
In nature, Florida’s wildflowers are found in all light conditions. Many beautiful species can adapt to varying light..
Reduce Water Pollution with Bioswales and Rain Gardens
Bioswales and Rain Gardens are an alternative to turf stormwater drainage ditches using native vegetation.
Collecting and Sowing Wildflower Seeds
One of the easiest methods of supplying new wildflowers for your yard is by growing..
Understanding COMAND Products
COMAND is compost made from 75% green waste…
Grass Removal Methods
This method avoids using herbicides. It is very effective to remove all vegetation for large areas.
Houseplant Watering Guide
We wish we could give you an exact watering schedule, unfortunately..
Native Garden Maintenance
We answer some common questions about maintenance on native gardens.
Wilcox Planting and Watering Guide
The planting site should provide the proper light, moisture, and drainage for your plant.
Protect the Bay (Fertilizer Alternatives)
Every summer, Tampa Bay enters an intense season of high…
Raised Bed Garden Soil
There is more than one way to build raised bed soil.
PROPER Sabal Palm Pruning
Harsh pruning takes away food and shelter from native migratory songbirds, woodpeckers, butterflies..
Seeding Dates for Grasses and Wildflowers
Florida’s native wildflowers and plants are essential to the pollinators we depend on.
Create a Pollinator Pot
The insects that pollinate our food crops and natural areas are in steep decline.
Florida Native Plants for Bees
This is a list of plants carried at Wilcox Nursery that are especially attractive to bees.
Gardening for Birds using Florida Native Plants
To attract birds to your yard, think about creating a habitat with food, shelter, and water..
Gardening for Birds by Season
The lifecycle of birds is very closely linked to insects, especially caterpillars.
Butterfly Host Plants for Tampa Bay
Grasses and Groundcovers…
Keystone Native Plants
Native plants have tight relationships with wildlife, formed over many thousands of years, providing natural sources..
Eastern Lubber Grasshoppers
Eastern Lubber are a NATIVE grasshopper that plays a vital role in Florida’s ecosystem.
Monarchs and Milkweeds
Monarchs have evolved over thousands of years with the native milkweed plants upon which they depend.
Top Pollinator and Host Plants
Our best native plants for attracting pollinators!
Milkweed Statement and FAQ's
As a native nursery that is working to support our natural ecosystems, we recommend planting only native..
Reduce Water Pollution with Bioswales and Rain Gardens
Bioswales and Rain Gardens are an alternative to turf stormwater drainage ditches using native vegetation.
Understanding COMAND Products
COMAND is compost made from 75% green waste…
Monarchs and Milkweeds
Monarchs have evolved over thousands of years with the native milkweed plants upon which they depend.
Protect the Bay (Fertilizer Alternatives)
Every summer, Tampa Bay enters an intense season of high…
Milkweed Statement and FAQ's
As a native nursery that is working to support our natural ecosystems, we recommend planting only native..
Reduce Water Pollution with Bioswales and Rain Gardens
Bioswales and Rain Gardens are an alternative to turf stormwater drainage ditches using native vegetation.
Designing a Hedge Using Florida Native Plants
When planning your hedge there are several things to thing about before you start buying.
Florida Native Plants for Bees
This is a list of plants carried at Wilcox Nursery that are especially attractive to bees.
Gardening for Birds using Florida Native Plants
To attract birds to your yard, think about creating a habitat with food, shelter, and water..
Gardening for Birds by Season
The lifecycle of birds is very closely linked to insects, especially caterpillars.
Butterfly Host Plants for Tampa Bay
Grasses and Groundcovers…
Keystone Trees
A keystone plant species is a plant that supports the life cycle of many species.
Eastern Lubber Grasshoppers
Eastern Lubber are a NATIVE grasshopper that plays a vital role in Florida’s ecosystem.
Protect the Bay (Fertilizer Alternatives)
Every summer, Tampa Bay enters an intense season of high…
Salt Tolerant Native Plants
Living on the coast of Florida offers numerous advantages, from breathtaking ocean views to a mild climate.
Top Pollinator and Host Plants
Our best native plants for attracting pollinators!
Aquatic Wildflowers for Pollinators
Florida is a great place to garden near or in water with native wildflowers and plants.
Reduce Water Pollution with Bioswales and Rain Gardens
Bioswales and Rain Gardens are an alternative to turf stormwater drainage ditches using native vegetation.
Create a Pollinator Pot
The insects that pollinate our food crops and natural areas are in steep decline.
Designing a Hedge Using Florida Native Plants
When planning your hedge there are several things to thing about before you start buying.
Florida Native Plants for Bees
This is a list of plants carried at Wilcox Nursery that are especially attractive to bees.
Gardening for Birds using Florida Native Plants
To attract birds to your yard, think about creating a habitat with food, shelter, and water..
Gardening for Birds by Season
The lifecycle of birds is very closely linked to insects, especially caterpillars.
Native Grasses and Groundcovers
Level up your lawn with native grasses and groundcovers! Traditional turf lawns require excessive water use, fertilizers..
Guide for Choosing Native Plants
This guide features over 125 wildflowers, shrubs, vines and grasses that are native to Florida..
Butterfly Host Plants for Tampa Bay
Grasses and Groundcovers…
Keystone Native Plants
Native plants have tight relationships with wildlife, formed over many thousands of years, providing natural sources..
Keystone Trees
A keystone plant species is a plant that supports the life cycle of many species.
Salt Tolerant Native Plants
Living on the coast of Florida offers numerous advantages, from breathtaking ocean views to a mild climate.
Top Pollinator and Host Plants
Our best native plants for attracting pollinators!
Starting a Wildflower Garden from Seed
Florida’s native wildflowers and plants are essential to the pollinators we depend on.
Wildflowers for Dry Landscapes
Many Florida landscapes have sandy soils that are naturally dry and well-drained, even after heavy rain.
Wildflowers for Shade
In nature, Florida’s wildflowers are found in all light conditions. Many beautiful species can adapt to varying light..
What Makes Our Resources Different
These guides are based on what we see working every day in Florida landscapes. With decades of experience in the Tampa Bay area, our team focuses on plants and approaches that are easier to care for, more resilient, and better suited to the way people actually live outdoors here.
Need Help Applying This To Your Yard?
Our team can help you turn these ideas into a landscape that works for your space, your conditions, and the way you live outdoors.