Native Plant Demonstration Garden

A saw palmetto in the foreground of a view of the native plant garden including a historic church.Through funding from the Florida Wildflower Foundation and assistance from Longwood's very own Dix.Hite, the City of Longwood is proud to present the City Hall Native Plant Demonstration Garden, located in front of the Community Development building at 174 West Church Avenue.

Click here to view a photo gallery of our Planting Day!

Check out this page maintained by the Florida Wildflower Foundation that provides you with fact sheets about all of the plants and flowers in our garden and how you can utilize them in your own yard!

Why plant native?

Native wildflowers, grasses, and shrubs are adapted to Florida’s climate, which reduces the need for fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides (which helps prevent the pollution of rivers and lakes) and reduces your need to water (which saves you money and preserves resources). Native plants also provide habitat for birds, butterflies, and bees, which brings life to your home garden and helps to reverse the decline in food and shelter for Florida’s wildlife.

Native planting helps bring life to your garden!

The plants in this garden are just a selection of the many great options to help attract hummingbirds, butterflies, pollinators and more to your yard and home garden. As Florida's growth continues and more land is developed with turfgrass and non-native plantings that often don't support Florida's wildlife, the need for "islands" of native plantings is more important than ever. 


This project is intended to show you the many benefits and possibilities of incorporating Florida native plants into your home garden. Here's some tips to consider when planning your home native garden:

  • Choose the right plants for your site’s conditions and climate zone.
  • Take care to select appropriate plants for wet and dry areas and light and shade areas of your yard.
  • Understand when certain plants flower and when they are dormant, and plan your garden so that every season has something in bloom.
  • Incorporate native grasses and groundcovers to fill space and add interest year-round.
  • Many of these plants are not found at traditional retail nurseries. Fortunately, there are a number of local nurseries that carry native plants! PlantRealFlorida.org can help you find retail native plant nurseries!

Resources