The Beautiful Side of “Ugly” Winter Gardens — Central Florida Edition
As we head into our mild Central Florida winter, it’s easy to assume our gardens don’t need the same “winterizing” mindset as northern landscapes. But here’s a secret: even here, the plants that look a little rough or “past their prime” become some of the most important features of a wildlife-friendly yard.
Those dried seed heads, spent blooms, and even the “weeds” you’re tempted to pull? They’re essential winter resources for birds that overwinter here and those passing through on migration.
🌾 What to Leave Standing in Winter
Keeping certain native plants untrimmed provides both food and shelter when birds need them most. In Central Florida, consider letting these stay through winter:
- Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) – Goldfinches and cardinals love the seed heads.
- Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) – Another great seed source for finches and sparrows.
- Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) – Its airy seed heads attract small birds and provide nesting material.
- Goldenrod (Solidago spp.) – Not just for pollinators; wintering songbirds rely on its seeds.
- Sunflowers (Helianthus spp.) – Leave the dried heads for titmice, nuthatches, and cardinals.
- Native “weeds” like Bidens alba (Spanish needle) – A powerhouse plant for pollinators, and its seeds feed small birds all winter long.
These plants may look messy to us, but to birds, they’re a buffet and a sheltering thicket wrapped into one.
🐦 Birds You’ll Help by Leaving Seed Heads
In Central Florida winters, you’ll support:
- American Goldfinches
- Palm Warblers
- Carolina Wrens
- Northern Cardinals
- Eastern Towhees
- Migrating robins, thrushes, and various warblers
Many of these species rely on dried seeds and winter cover more than we realize.
🌿 Plant Now for Migratory Birds Later
While leaving dried plants is a great seasonal gift, consider installing native plants that support migratory birds year-round—especially berry producers.
A standout choice?
➡️ Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria)
- Produces bright red berries beloved by migrating birds like cedar waxwings, American robins, and many wintering species.
- Offers shelter and nesting sites.
- Beautiful, drought-tolerant, and perfectly suited to Central Florida yards.
Other excellent additions include:
- Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)
- Simpson’s Stopper (Myrcianthes fragrans)
- Wax Myrtle (Morella cerifera)
- Firebush (Hamelia patens)
These plants create a year-round haven for birds—no matter the season.
🌱 Let Your Garden Get a Little Wild
This winter, try letting your garden stay a bit untamed. Skip the pruning. Leave the stalks. Keep the seed heads. You’ll be amazed by the life that gathers in those “imperfect” corners—the flashes of yellow from goldfinches, the rustling of towhees under dried grasses, or the soft chatter of migrating birds stopping in for a snack.
A slightly wild garden is a living garden—and in Central Florida, it’s a gift to every creature passing through.
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