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Central Florida Wildflower Field GuideBryan Lindenberger2023-03-08T10:55:20-07:00
  • North Central Florida Wildflower Identification

Florida Wildflower Identification - Field Guide

Florida Wildflower Identification – Field Guide

Use this page to quickly identify Florida wildflowers for later research. Images of these southeastern US wildflowers are taken while hiking and backpacking North Central Florida counties. These include Alachua, Marion, and Putnam near Palatka, Ocala, Hawthorne, and Gainesville. But you may find these wildflowers throughout Florida, the Southeastern states, and beyond.

Tap any flower image for a larger view.

Note: See also Hiking Trails of Central Florida with dozens of locations and trail maps!

Corrections: please contact Bryan Lindenberger (bryan@bryanberg.net)

Blue and Purple Wildflowers
Pink and Red Wildflowers
White Wildflowers
Yellow and Orange Wildflowers

Blue and Purple Florida Wildflowers Found in North Central Florida

American Bluehearts - Buchnera americana, 5 heart-shaped petals, violet to blue

American Bluehearts – Buchnera americana, Florida wildflower grows with 5 heart-shaped petals, violet to blue with a few blossoms on each spindly stem

Tall Elephant's Foot - Elephantopus elatus

Tall Elephant’s Foot – Elephantopus elatus blooms blue-pink in autumn with tiny blossoms arranged to resemble an elephant’s footprint and is considered a “pushy plant.”

common blue violet - Viola striata

Common Blue Violet – Viola striata blooms in late winter and spring with five blue petals and dark landing stripes for pollinators.

Blue Curls - Trichostema dichotomum,, mint family, blue, long curled stamen

Forked Blue Curls – Trichostema dichotomum, in the mint family, blue or purple speckled petals, long curled stamen in sandhills and flatwoods

Carolina Petunia – Ruellia caroliniensis, 5 blue or violet petals, white stamen

Carolina Petunia – Ruellia caroliniensis, 5 blue or violet petals, white stamen, small with oblong leaves and white stamen

Florida Paintbrush - Carphephorus corymbosus, purple clusters with long purple stamens

Florida Paintbrush – Carphephorus corymbosus, purple flower clusters with long purple stamens, attracts butterflies

Hairy Chaffhead - Carphephorus paniculatus

Hairy Chaffhead – Carphephorus paniculatus grows in full sunlight and blooms purple in autumn from tall stems

Giant Ironweed - Vernonia-gigantea,, tall, spindly, purple clusters

Giant Ironweed – Vernonia gigantea, tall, spindly stemmed Florida wildflower with purple clusters of flowers

Meadow Beauty - Rhexia-virginica, four veined purple petals, long yellow stamen

Meadow Beauty – Rhexia mariana, four veined purple or blue petals, grows with a long yellow stamen and narrow, grass-like leaves

Pickerelweed - Pontederi cordata, long, purple oblong clusters in marsh and swamp

Pickerelweed – Pontederi cordata, wildflower has long, purple oblong clusters in marsh and swamp

Powderpuff - Mimosa strigillosa, pink to lavender, pompom shape

Sunshine Powderpuff – Mimosa strigillosa, pink to lavender wildflower, made of many tiny flowers to make pompom shape

Southern Blue Flag Iris, Swamp, Iris, Virginia Iris - Iris-virginica, showy, marsh flower, 3 blue or purple petals, yellow or orange signal

Southern Blue Flag Iris, Swamp Iris, Virginia Iris – Iris virginica, marsh flower, 3 blue or purple petals, yellow or orange signal

Spurred Butterfly Pea - Centrosema-virginianum, butterfly shape bloom on vine

Spurred Butterfly Pea – Centrosema virginianum, butterfly shape purple bloom on vine

Tievine Morning Glory - Ipomoea cordatotriloba, purple bloom on vine, star pattern

Tievine Morning Glory – Ipomoea cordatotriloba, purple bloom on vine, star pattern

Water Hyacinth - Eichhornia-crassipes, aquatic, broad leaf, purple flower with yellow spot

Water Hyacinth – Eichhornia crassipes, aquatic, broad leaf, purple flower with orange  or yellow spot near center

Aster cordifolius -blue wood aster - small wildflower with elongated, oval blue petals and purple or yellow center

Blue Wood Aster – Aster cordifolius, small wildflower with elongated, oval blue petals and purple or yellow center

common blue violet Viola sororia

Common Blue Violet – Viola sororia this small flower has five blue petals and a white, veined center

Lyreleaf Sage - Salvia lyrata

Lyreleaf Sage – Salvia lyrata has a stem filled with horn shaped blue flowers at the top and long stamen

blue toadflax - Linaria canadensis

Blue Toadflax – Linaria canadensis, a small blue or purple wildflower with a long stem often growing with sheep’s sorrel in open sun

Thistle - Cirsium horridulum

Thistle – Cirsium horridulum blooms brilliantly in spring and summer – low lying, but stems may grow as tall as you in spring

Carolina Horsenettle, Solanum carolinense

Carolina Horsenettle – Solanum carolinense blooms in summer five blue star-shaped petals and yellow stamen

Blue Jacket, Ohio Spiderwort - radescantia ohiensis, Commelinaceae

Blue Jacket, Ohio Spiderwort – Tradescantia ohiensis, Commelinaceae blooms in spring with three blue petals and yellow stamen

Chapmans Blazing Star Liatris chapmanii

Chapman’s Blazing Star – Liatris chapmanii blossoms blue to pink and purple in autumn in shaded, wet areas in clusters from a single tall  stem

Smallhead Blazing Star Liatris microcephala

Smallhead Blazing Star – Liatris microcephala is a Southern US purple or pink wildflower with a tall stem and long stamen in Florida

Sandhill Dayflower – Commelina-erecta-L blooms with two round blue petals in summer with a yellow center

Blue False Gilia - Allophyllum-gilioides

Blue False Gilia – Allophyllum-gilioides blooms in summer with tiny flower clusters with five petals each on a long stem

Alligatorflag - Thalia geniculata, Marantaceae

Alligatorflag – Thalia geniculata, Marantaceae grows in wetlands with arrow shaped leaves, tall with blue/purple flowers

Pink and Red Florida Wildflowers Found in North Central Florida

Coral Bean - Erythrina herbacea, tall stem, coral or pink bean shaped flowers, attracts hummingbirds

Coral Bean – Erythrina herbacea, tall stem, coral or pink bean shaped flowers, attracts hummingbirds

Scarlet Swamp Hibiscus - Hibiscus coccineus

Scarlet Swamp Hibiscus – Hibiscus coccineus found in wetlands, large and red, here at Sweetwater Wetlands Park

Flaxleaf False Foxglove - Agalinis linifolia

Flaxleaf False Foxglove – Agalinis linifolia blooms with 5 pink petals and a white stamen in seasonally marshy Florida plains

Fetterbush - Lyonia lucida, , bell-shaped flowers on evergreen shrub

Fetterbush – Lyonia lucida, bell-shaped flowers on evergreen shrub – a beauty to find in spring and summer

Marsh Pink - Sabatia grandiflora, small, five petal flower with yellow center and red outline

Marsh Pink – Sabatia grandiflora, small, five petal flower with yellow center and red outline

Red Sorrel - Rumex acetosella, tall red stem, many small flowers, open sun

Red Sorrel, Sheep’s Sorrel – Rumex acetosella, tall red stem, many small flowers, open sun

Sweet Pea - Lathyrus-odoratus, butterfly or popcorn shaped, pink

Sweet Pea – Lathyrus odoratus, butterfly or popcorn shaped, pink, small

Tropical-Sage - Salvia coccinea, tall stem, small flowers, red petals and long red stamen

Tropical Sage – Salvia coccinea, tall stem, small flowers, red petals and long red stamen

Trumpet Creeper - Campsis radicans, long, horn shaped, five red petals on vine

Trumpet Creeper – Campsis radicans, long, horn shaped, five red petals on a vine creeping up large plants

Wild Azalea - Rhododendron canescens

Wild Azalea – Rhododendron canescens, blooms in spring with five pink or white petals and very long stamen on a large bush

Florida Tasselflower Emilia fosbergii florida wildflower

Florida Tasselflower – Emilia fosbergii blooms in summer and fall with tiny red bulbous flowers

White Florida Wildflowers Found in North Central Florida

Buttonbush - Cephalanthus occidentalis, globular white flower with long stamen like spikes on bush

Buttonbush – Cephalanthus occidentalis, globular white flower with long stamen like spikes on bush

Innocence - Houstonia procumbens

Innocence – Houstonia procumbens – a tiny, white wildflower with a yellow center and long stamen

White Water Lily - nymphaea odorata

White Water Lily – nymphaea odorata grows in water, a small white lily with yellow stamen in marshlands, aquatic

Elderberry - Sambucus nigratiny white flower clusters on bush

Elderberry – Sambucus nigra, tiny white flower clusters on bush with elongated leaves, produce elderberries, of course!

Frog Fruit - Phyla nodifloratiny, five petal flowers around a purple center

Frog Fruit or Capeweed- Phyla nodiflora, tiny, five petal flowers growing in a cluster around a purple center or seed

Lanceleaf Arrowhead -Sagittaria latifoliaaquatic, three white leaves, yellow center, long, pointed leaf

Lanceleaf Arrowhead -Sagittaria latifolia, aquatic, three white leaves, yellow center, long, pointed leaf

Neches River Rosemallow - Hibiscus dasycalyx, large white flower with overlapping petals and purple center, long stamen

Neches River Rosemallow – Hibiscus dasycalyx, large white flower with overlapping petals and purple center, long stamen

Fineleaf Whiteop Sedge - Rhynchospora coloratatiny white flower with green tips in grass

Fineleaf Whiteop Sedge – Rhynchospora colorata, tiny white flower with green tips in grass

Summer Farewell - Dalea pinnata, small white flower with long white stamen, red buds

Summer Farewell – Dalea pinnata, has tiny, red buds that bloom into small white flower with long white stamen

Oakleaf Fleabane Erigeron quercifolius

Oakleaf Fleabane – Erigeron quercifolius has tall stems and many tiny white petals, may be tinted violet, yellow centers in daisy family

Branched Hedgehyssop - Gratiola Ramosa

Branched Hedgehyssop – Gratiola Ramosa grows in clusters with four white petals and a yellow center

Hat Pins Flattened Pipewort Eriocaulon compressum

Hat Pins aka Flattened Pipewort – Eriocaulon compressum tiny white flowers, may have a yellow center on long, spindly stems

Atamasco Rain-Lily - Zephyranthes atamasca

Atamasco Rain-Lily – Zephyranthes atamasca grows in moist soil blooming in spring with six white petals, yellow stamen

Hedge False Bindweed - Calystegia sepium

Hedge False Bindweed – Calystegia sepium, native to Florida, trumpet shaped white or pink marsh flower, yellow center

Streambank Spider Lily Hymenocallis rotata

Streambank Spider Lily – Hymenocallis rotata wildflower rows along north central Florida river banks and marshes

Redroot Carolina - Redroot Lachnanthes caroliniana

Redroot Carolina – Redroot Lachnanthes caroliniana white flower cluster on a long stem in water ditches, poisonous to livestock

Spurge Nettle - Cnidolscolus Stimulosus

Spurge Nettle – Cnidolscolus Stimulosus has white flowers with five petals and three-lobed leaves that may be spotted

Bull Nettle Cnidoscolus stimulosus

Bull Nettle – Cnidoscolus stimulosus is the same species as spurge nettle, reshown to show variety of leaves and flower shapes

Tarflower Bejaria - racemosa

Tarflower – Bejaria racemosa considered a shrub, wildflower has 7 white petals, long stamen, may be tinted pink, with long stems

Costalplain Dawnflower - Stylisma patens

Costalplain Dawnflower – Stylisma patens vine creeps sunny ground, blooming with a 5-point, white, star-shaped flower

mock bishops weed -Ptilimnium capillaceum

Mock Bishops Weed – Ptilimnium capillaceum has a spindly stem with a cluster of sparse, tiny white flowers as it blooms

Frostweed - Verbesina virginica

Frostweed Verbesina virginica blooms in summer and fall with small blossoms of 3 petals or more and black anthers

Groundsel Baccharis halimifolia

Groundsel – Baccharis halimifolia is a flowering bush, pointy white flowers and floating seeds on fluffy pappus

Arrow Leaf Sida - Sida rhombifolia

Arrow Leaf Sida – Sida rhombifolia blooms in summer with white or pail yellow petals and a yellow center, has jagged leaves

Spanish Needle - Bidens-alba

Spanish Needle – Bidens-alba blooms with five white petals in summer with a yellow-orange center in dry scrubby areas and woodlands

Yellow and Orange Florida Wildflowers Found in North Central Florida

American Lotus - Nelumbo lutea, pale yellow, overlapping petals with bright yellow center in water

American Lotus – Nelumbo lutea, pale yellow, overlapping petals with bright yellow center in water

Bushy Seaside Oxeye - Borrichia frutescens, many yellow petals, yellow center, like a small daisy

Bushy Seaside Oxeye – Borrichia frutescens, many yellow petals, yellow center, like a small daisy

Coastal Plain Honeycombhead -balduina-angustifolia

Coastal Plain Honeycombhead – Balduina angustifolia, yellow flower with honeycomb center, long stem and spindly leaves

Carters Flax - Linum-carteri, tiny yellow flower with five overlapping petals, green star at center

Carter’s Flax – Linum-carteri, tiny yellow flower with five overlapping petals, green star at center

Florida Tickseed - Coreopsis floridana, small, long stem, many yellow petals of different lengths, brown center

Florida Tickseed – Coreopsis floridana, small, long stem, many yellow petals of different lengths, brown center

Blackeyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta - Florida Wildflower

Blackeyed Susan – Rudbeckia hirta blooms fall, many yellow petals with simpler oval shape than Florida Tickseed, and a brown center

Orange Milkwort - Polygala lutea, small, low to ground, orange cylinder of petals

Orange Milkwort – Polygala lutea, small, low to ground, bright orange cylinder of clustered, tiny flower petals

yellow milkwort - Polygata rugelli

Yellow Milkwort – Polygata rugelli blooms in spring like the orange milkwort in the moist woodlands of Florida.

partridge pea - Chamaecrista fasciculata, yellow or orange petals with long, curled stamen and dark spots, pea pod

Partridge Pea – Chamaecrista fasciculata, yellow or orange petals with long, curled stamen and dark spots, pea pod

Chapmans Sensitive Plant - Senna mexicana, five yellow petals, long pink or red stamen in clusters

Chapman’s Sensitive Plant – Senna mexicana, five yellow petals, long pink or red stamen in clusters

Partridge Pea Chamaecrista fasciculata

Partridge Pea – Chamaecrista fasciculata has 5 yellow petals and about 10 long stamen growing from a fern-like plant

Wingleaf Primrose Willow - Ludwigia decurrens, five veined yellow petals may be heart shaped and a white center ovule

Wingleaf Primrose Willow – Ludwigia decurrens, five veined yellow petals may be heart shaped and a white center ovule

Yellow Carolina Jasmine-Gelsemium -sempervirens, vine in trees, five yellow petals, yellow center, and long stamen

Yellow Carolina Jasmine -Gelsemium sempervirens, vine in trees, five yellow petals, yellow center, and long stamen

Carolina Rockrose – Helianthemum carolinianum, small, yellow, five petal flower with long yellow stamen, broad leaves

florida yellow flax Linum floridanum

Florida Yellow Flax – Linum floridanum blooms in summer with 5 orange petals and long, narrow leaves on the stem

Grassleaf Yellow Star Grass - Hypoxis juncea

Grassleaf Yellow Star Grass – Hypoxis juncea grass whose flower has six yellow petals and yellow stamen

Southeastern Sneezeweed - Helenium pinnatifidum

Southeastern Sneezeweed – Helenium pinnatifidum marsh flower, daisy family, yellow with many petals, large yellow center

Primrose Willow - Ludwigia peruviana

Primrose Willow – Ludwigia peruviana has four yellow petals that may be heart -shaped and yellow stamen in marshy areas

Zigzag bladderwort - Utricularia subulata

Zigzag bladderwort – Utricularia subulata is a carnivorous plant with a tiny yellow pea-shaped flowers

Florida Yellow Bladderwort - Utricularia floridana

Florida Yellow Bladderwort – Utricularia floridana is a yellow, aquatic, carnivorous flower growing in swamps and may bloom most of year except winter

Carolina Desert-Chicory aka False Dandelion - Pyrrhopappus hypochoeris

Carolina Desert-Chicory aka False Dandelion – Pyrrhopappus hypochoeris is small yellow wildflower and a great pollinator

Four Petal St. John's-Wort - Hypericum tetrapetalum

Four Petal St. John’s-Wort – Hypericum tetrapetalum has four, squared petals and yellow stamen blooming in summer

Pencilflower - Stylosanthes biflora

Pencilflower – Stylosanthes biflora is a small, orange Florida wildflower, low to the ground and pea shaped

Hairypod Cowpea - Vigna luteola

Hairypod Cowpea – Vigna luteola has three yellow petals, or pea-shaped, and a long spindly stem a couple of feet tall

St Andrews Cross - Hypericum hypericoides

St Andrews Cross – Hypericum hypericoides small shrub with four, yellow petals in shape of a cross or an X

Florida Wildflower: Narrowleaf Yellowtop Flaveria linearis

Narrowleaf Yellowtop – Flaveria linearis seen in fall in Florida, a long-stemmed yellow wildflower with narrow leaves

Chapmans Goldenrod - Solidago odara var chapmanii florida wildflower

Chapmans Goldenrod – Solidago odara var chapmanii has a long stem filled with tiny yellow flower clusters in the fall

Yellow Flag, Water Flag - Iris pseudacorus

Yellow Flag, Water Flag – Iris pseudacorus grows in swampy areas and blooms in spring with long yellow petals

Coastalplain Hawkweed - Hieracium megacephalon

Coastalplain Hawkweed – Hieracium megacephalon has many pale yellow petals and grows on spindly stems to 3 feet high

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