06/16/2026
Want to support local pollinators but tired of the same old recommendations? It’s time to look past the milkweed and meet four of our favorite "hidden gem" powerhouses.
While they look stunning together at the nursery, these four thrive in different spots across your yard, making it easy to feed wildlife from your sunniest corners to your deepest shade:
1️⃣ Native Anise (Illicium)
The Vibe: A lush, evergreen privacy screen with rich, licorice-scented foliage.
The Spot: Loves damp, dappled shade.
Pollinator Plus: Its striking starburst blooms are a vital food source for specialized early-season pollinators. (Bonus: We have Red, White, and Yellow in stock right now!)
2️⃣ Garberia (Garberia heterophylla)
The Vibe: A rare, state listed threatened beauty that grows naturally right here in Florida and nowhere else on Earth.
The Spot: Needs full, baking sun and high, dry, sandy soil.
Pollinator Plus: In late summer, it erupts in fuzzy pink/lavender flower heads that native bees absolutely swarm.
3️⃣ Chaste Tree (Vitex)
The Vibe: A tough as nails, drought tolerant small feature tree that handles intense summer heat like a champ.
The Spot: Full sun.
Pollinator Plus: Erupts in massive spikes of lavender/blue flowers that honeybees and bumbles will literally make hum with life.
4️⃣ Coral Bean (Erythrina herbacea)
The Vibe: A dramatic, architectural native with glossy, arrowhead shaped leaves and wicked, protective thorns.
The Spot: Highly adaptable…. loves full sun to partial shade and thrives in dry, sandy soils.
Pollinator Plus: In spring, it shoots up spectacular, fiery red tubular spikes that are an absolute magnet for migrating hummingbirds and large butterflies.
Whether you have a dry, sunny sandbox or a damp, shaded fence line, you don't have to sacrifice beautiful landscape structure to take care of our local ecosystem.
Swing by the nursery this week to see all four in person and find the perfect fit for your yard!