You Can Create Your Own Pine Rockland Garden 

Pine rockland landscaping in the yard of a Kendall home.  Photos by Steve Woodmansee, Pro Native Consulting.

You can help increase the population of pine rockland plant species by planting your own pine rockland garden!  Before you begin, it's important to know which pine rockland plants do best in your area, as some thrive, for example, in the southern part of the County but aren't found in the northern part. To find a list of pine rockland plants best suited for your neighborhood, please visit The Institute for Regional Conservation's "Natives for your Neighborhood" website and enter your zip code.  This web page will also provide you with information on restoring pine rockland habitat.  

In addition, the Florida Yards and Neighborhoods website has some practical advice in developing yards in South Florida.  For a link to that information, click here.  

We have links to other websites that may help in your planning as well.  For these, check out our Links Page.

 

Special note on planting Slash pines:

Reintroducing native slash pines to the pine rockland habitat in South Florida seems to be more difficult than expected given slash pines' historical prevalence in the area. There are a fair number of anecdotal reports of planted pines rapidly reaching 10 feet and then dying. Recent research suggests that slash pines need to grow in association with specific, beneficial root-inhabiting fungi in order to do well. These mutualistic, "mycorrhizal" fungi assist the pine tree in absorbing nutrients. It may be that slash pines need to be planted in sites that are located close to existing areas where slash pine are already growing well to insure that the mycorrhizal fungi are present.

Another possibility for the difficulty of growing slash pines is that areas that have been rock plowed - a common practice when pinnacle rock was being cleared for agricultural or home building purposes - are degraded in some way that is harmful to the successful reestablishment of the slash pine. Pulverization of limestone rock might have caused pH changes and altered mineral nutrient availability (especially of iron) in a way that is detrimental to slash pine and its mycorrhizal fungi.

 

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Ipomoea tenuissima

Asclepias tuberosa

Licania michauxii

Gulf fritillary caterpillar on           Passiflora suberosa

Passiflora sexflora

Asclepias viridis

Melanthera parvifolia

Where to find native pine rockland plants

These South Florida nurseries and non-profit organizations sell Florida native plants.  Please do call ahead to check stocks and species before going! 

  

Alexander Landscaping & Plant Farm
www.alexfarm.com
954-472-5039
91 S. Flamingo Rd.
Davie

 

Casey's Corner Nursery and Landscaping
31877 SW 197 Ave
Homestead
305-248-7284

Citizens for a Better South Florida
www.abettersouthflorida.org/native_plants.html
305-648-0000
3191 SW 21st St
Miami
Plants listed on website can be purchased Monday - Friday, 9:00 am-6:00 pm and during some weekend. Please call the office first to check on plant availability and see if someone is available to assist you in the nursery.


Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
305-667-1651
10901 Old Cutler Rd
Coral Gables, FL  33156
We have plant sales in April (our Spring Plant Sale, the last Saturday of April),  November (during Ramble), and in October (during Member's Day sale, the first Saturday of Oct.).  During those months check our website for the dates and more detailed information, or call for more information.


Florida Native Plant Society, Dade Chapter
www.dade.fnpschapters.org
305-255-6404
Meetings are held at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden the 4^th Tuesday of each month, with native plant raffle during meetings and plenty of people to tell you where to find native plants. 

 

Indian Trails Native Nursery
561-248-6669
6315 Park Lane W.
Lake Worth

 

The Institute for Regional Conservation
http://www.regionalconservation.org/
305-247-6547
22601 SW 152nd Ave
Goulds
(Planning a native nursery - check website for updates) 

 

Kelly's Tropicals
786-444-7714
19475 SW 344th St
Homestead

 

Plant Creations
www.plantcreations.com
305-248-8147
28301 SW 172nd Ave
Homestead
You must call for an appointment prior to visiting.

 

Pro Native Consulting
stevewoodmansee@bellsouth.net
786-488-3101
8025 SW 102nd Ave
Miami

 

Richard Lyons Nursery
20200 SW 134th St
Goulds
305-324-1100

 

Tropical Audubon Society
http://www.tropicalaudubon.org/
305-667-7337
5530 Sunset Dr.
South Miami
Plant sales are held periodically; check website for details.

 

Veber's Jungle Garden
305-242-9500
14605 SW 197th Ave.
Homestead 

 

 

 

 

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If you are ready to join the Connect to Protect Network or would like more information, please contact Joyce Maschinski at jmaschinski@fairchildgarden.org  or 305-667-1651 X 3416.