The books listed below about Florida plants and ecosystems is not exhaustive, but forms an excellent basis for understanding, especially for those new to the subject. Books are loosely organized into the following topic groups:
Landscape Design & Plant Selection
The Art of Maintaining a Native Florida Landscape. Ginny Stibolt. 2015. Gainesville: University Press of Florida.
Best Native Plants for Southern Gardens: A Handbook for Gardeners, Homeowners, and Professionals. 2010. Gil Nelson. Gainesville: University Press of Florida.
Climate-Wise Landscaping: Practical Actions for a Sustainable Future, Second Edition. Sue Reed and Ginny Stibolt. 2023. Gainesville: University Press of Florida.
Florida's Best Native Landscape Plants: 200 Readily Available Species for Homeowners and Professionals. Gil Nelson. 2003. Gainesville: University Press of Florida.
Florida's Carnivorous Plants. Kenny Coogan. 2022. New York: Pineapple Press.
A Gardener's Guide to Florida's Native Plants. Rufino Osorio. 2001. Gainesville: University Press of Florida. OUT OF PRINT
Growing Native: Native Plants for Landscape Use in Coastal South Florida. Richard W. Workman. 1980. Sanibel: Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation. OUT OF PRINT
Native Florida Plants: Low Maintenance Landscaping and Gardening. Robert G. Haehle and Joan Brookwell. 2004 (revised edition). Taylor Trade Publishing.
Natural Florida Landscaping. Dan Walton and Laurel Schiller. 2007. Sarasota: Pineapple Press.
Native Florida Plants for Drought- and Salt-Tolerant Landscaping. Richard Wunderlin and George R. Kish. 2013. Sarasota: Pineapple Press.
Native Florida Plants for Shady Landscapes. Craig N. Huegel. 2015. Gainesville: University Press of Florida.
Native Plants for Florida Gardens. Stacey Matrazzo and Nancy Bissett. 2020. Pineapple Press.
Native Wildflowers and Other Ground Covers for Florida Landscapes. Craig N. Huegel. 2012. Gainesville: University Press of Florida.
The Right Plants for Dry Places. Suncoast Native Plant Society. 2005 (2nd edition). St. Petersburg: Great Outdoors Publishing Co.
A Step-by-Step Guide to a Florida Native Yard. Ginny Stibolt and Marjorie Shropshire. 2018. Gainesville: University Press of Florida.
Sustainable Gardening for Florida, Ginny Stibolt. 2009. Gainesville: University Press of Florida.
Florida Ecosystems
Atlas of Florida's Natural Heritage – Biodiversity, Landscapes, Stewardship, and Opportunities.. Knight, G.R., J.B. Oetting, and L. Cross, eds. 011. Tallahassee: Institute of Science and Public Affairs, Florida State University.
Coastal Dune Plants: The Common Plants of Southeast Florida's Ocean-side Communities. Daniel . Austin, Penelope Honychurch, and Steve Bass. 1991. Boca Raton: Gumbo Limbo Nature Center. OUT OF PRINT
Coastal Hammock and Mangrove Guide. Daniel Austin, Penelope Honychurch, and Steve Bass. 1983. Boca Raton: Gumbo Limbo Nature Center. OUT OF PRINT
Ecosystems of Florida. Ronald L Myers and John J. Ewel, editors. 1990. Gainesville: University Press of Florida.
Fire Ecology of Florida and the Southeastern Coastal Plain. Reed Noss. 2024. Gainesville: University Press of Florida.
Flatwoods Plant Guide. Daniel F. Austin, Penelope Honychurch, and Steve Bass. 2002. Boca Raton: Gumbo Limbo Nature Center. OUT OF PRINT
Guide to the Natural Communities of Florida. 2010. Tallahassee: Florida Natural Areas Inventory. View/download full guide or individual community accounts.
Priceless Florida: Natural Ecosystems and Native Species. Ellie Whitney, Bruce Means and Anne Rudloe. 2005. Sarasota: Pineapple Press.
Scrub Plant Guide. Daniel F. Austin, Penelope Honychurch, and Steve Bass. 1993. Boca Raton: Gumbo Limbo Nature Center. OUT OF PRINT
Xeric Landscaping with Florida Native Plants. Michael Jameson and Richard Moyroud, editors. 1991. San Antonio, FL: Association of Florida Native Nurseries. OUT OF PRINT
Wildflower Guidebooks
Complete Guide to Florida Wildflowers: Over 600 Wildflowers of the Sunshine State including National Parks, Forests, Preserves, and More than 160 State Parks. Roger L. Hammer. 2018. Guilford, CT: Falcon Press Publishing.
Central Florida Wildflowers: A Field Guide to Wildflowers of the Lake Wales Ridge, Ocala National Forest, Disney Wilderness Preserve, and More than 60 State Parks and Preserves. Roger L. Hammer. 2016. Guilford, CT: Falcon Press Publishing.
Everglades Wildflowers: A Field Guide to Wildflowers of the Historic Everglades, Including Big Cypress, Corkscrew, and Fakahatchee Swamps. Roger L. Hammer. 2002. Guilford, CT: Falcon Press Publishing.
Florida Keys Wildflowers: A Field Guide to the Wildflowers, Trees, Shrubs and Woody Vines of the Florida Keys. Roger L. Hammer. 2004. Guilford, CT: Falcon Press Publishing.
Florida Wildflowers: A Comprehensive Guide. Walter Kingsley Taylor. 2013. Gainesville: University of Florida.
Wild Orchids of Florida: With References to the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains. Paul Martin Brown. 2006 (revised edition). Gainesville: University Press of Florida. OUT OF PRINT
Aquatic/Wetland/Littoral Plants
Florida Freshwater Plants: A Handbook of Common Aquatic Plants in Florida Lakes. Karen Brown, Mark V. Hoyer, and Daniel E. Canfield. 1996. Tallahassee: Florida Department of Environmental Protection and University of Florida. (available from UF/IFAS)
Florida Wetland Plants: An Identification Manual. John D. Tobe (editor). Florida Department of Environmental Protection and University of Florida. 1998. Tallahassee: Florida Department of Environmental Protection and University of Florida. OUT OF PRINT
Trees
Forest Trees of Florida. Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Forestry. 2004 (19th edition). Tallahassee: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. (Available from Florida Division of Forestry)
Native Trees and Shrubs of the Florida Keys. J. Paul Scurlock. 1987. Bethel Park, PA: Laurel Press OUT OF PRINT
Trees: North and Central Florida. Andrew Koeser, Gitta Hasing, Melissa Friedman, & Robert Irving. 2015. Gainesville: Univ. of Florida Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences.
The Trees of Florida: A Reference and Field Guide. Gil Nelson. 1998. Sarasota: Pineapple Press. OUT OF PRINT
Other Field Guides
Common Grasses of Florida and the Southeast. Lewis Yarlett. 1996. Orlando: Florida Native Plant Society.
The Ferns of Florida: A Reference and Field Guide. Gil Nelson. 2000. Sarasota: Pineapple Press.
Field Guide to the Rare Plants of Florida. Linda G. Chafin. 2004. Tallahassee: Florida Natural Areas Inventory. OUT OF PRINT
Grasses of Florida. David W. Hall. 2019. Gainesville: University Press of Florida.
A Guide to Florida Grasses. Walter Kingsley Taylor. 2009. Gainesville: University Press of Florida.
Illustrated Plants of Florida and the Coastal Plain. David Hall. 2020. Gainesville: University Press of Florida.
National Audubon Society Field Guide to Florida. National Audubon Society, Peter Alden, and Rick Cech. 1998. Knopf.
Native Bromeliads of Florida. Harry Luther and David Benzing. 2009. Sarasota: Pineapple Press.
Seashore Plants of Florida and the Caribbean: A Guide to Knowing and Growing Drought- And Salt-Tolerant Plants. 1994. Sarasota: Pineapple Press. OUT OF PRINT
The Shrubs and Woody Vines of Florida: A Reference and Field Guide. Gil Nelson. 1996. Sarasota: Pineapple Press.
Weeds of Southern Turfgrasses: (Golf Courses, Lawns, Roadsides, Recreational Areas, Commercial Sod). Lambert B. McCarty Murphy, David Hall, Daniel L. Colvin, et al. 2004. Gainesville: University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
Gardening for Butterflies & Other Pollinators
Attracting Hummingbirds and Butterflies in Tropical Florida: A Companion for Gardeners. Roger L. Hammer. 2015. Gainesville: University Press of Florida.
Bee Basics: An Introduction to Our Native Bees. Beatrice Moisett and Stephen Buchmann. 2016. USDA and the Pollinator Partnership. Download PDF version.
Butterfly Gardening with Florida's Native Plants. Craig N. Huegel. 1998. Orlando: Florida Native Plant Society.
Florida Butterfly Caterpillars and Their Host Plants. Marc C. Minno, Jerry F. Butler, and Donald W. Hall. 2005. Gainesville: University Press of Florida.
Florida Butterfly Gardening: A Complete Guide to Attracting, Identifying, and Enjoying Butterflies. Mark C. Minno and Maria Minno. 1999. Gainesville: University Press of Florida.
Florida's Aquatic Butterfly Gardens. Sean Patton & Kendall Southworth. 2024. New York: Pineapple Press.
Gardening for Florida's Butterflies. Pamela F. Traas. 2000 (2nd edition). St. Petersburg: Great Outdoors Publishing Co.
Native Plant Gardening for Birds, Bees & Butterflies: Southeast. Jaret C. Daniels. 2021. Cambridge, MN: Adventure Publications.
Your Florida Guide to Butterfly Gardening: A Guide for the Deep South. Second Edition. Jaret C. Daniels. 2022. Gainesville: University of Florida Press.
Wildlife Gardening
Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants, Updated and Expanded. Douglas W. Tallamy. 2009. Timber Press.
Gardening for Wildlife in Florida. Downloadable book (PDF) from the Florida Wildlife Federation. Free!
Landscaping for Florida's Wildlife: Re-creating Native Ecosystems in Your Yard. Joseph M. Schaefer and George W. Tanner. 1998. Gainesville: University Press of Florida.
Native Plant Landscaping for Florida Wildlife. Craig N. Huegel. 2010. Gainesville: University Press of Florida.
Planting a Refuge for Wildlife: Creating a Backyard Habitat for Florida's Native Animals. Susan Cerulean. Tallahassee: Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission and Wildlife Foundation of Florida (Order from Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida)
Edible / Medicinal Plants
Eat the Weeds: A Forager’s Guide to Identifying and Harvesting 274 Wild Foods. Deane Jordan. 2023. Cambridge, MN: Adventure Publications.
Florida Ethnobotany. Daniel F. Austin. 2004. Boca Raton: CRC Press.
Florida's Edible Wild Plants: A Guide to Collecting and Cooking. Peggy S. Lantz. 2014. Gainesville: Seaside Publishing.
Florida's Incredible Wild Edibles. Richard Deuerling and Peggy Lantz. 1993. Orlando: Florida Native Plant Society.
Florida's Best Fruiting Plants: Native and Exotic Trees, Shrubs, and Vines. Charles R. Boning. Pineapple Press. 2021.
Florida's Best Herbs and Spices: Native and Exotic Plants Grown for Scent and Flavor. Charles R. Boning. Pineapple Press. 2021
Healing Plants: Medicine of the Florida Seminole Indians. A. M. Snow and S. E. Stans. 2001. Gainesville: University Press of Florida.
Botany / Taxonomy
A Botanist's Vocabulary: 1300 Terms Explained and Illustrated. Susan K. Pell and Bobbi Angell. Portland OR: Timber Press.
Botany in a Day: The Patterns Method of Plant Identification. Thomas J. Elpel. 2013. Pony, MT: Hops Press.
Flora of Florida, Volume I: Pteridophytes and Gymnosperms. Richard P. Wunderlin and Bruce F. Hansen. 2000. Gainesville: University Press of Florida.
Flora of Florida, Volume II: Dicotyledons, Cabombaceae through Geraniaceae. Richard P. Wunderlin and Bruce F. Hansen. 2015. Gainesville: University Press of Florida.
Flora of Florida, Volume III: Dicotyledons, Vitaceae through Urticaceae. Richard P. Wunderlin and Bruce F. Hansen. 2016. Gainesville: University Press of Florida.
Flora of Florida, Volume IV: Dicotyledons, Combretaceae through Amaranthaceae. Richard P. Wunderlin, Bruce F. Hansen, and Alan R. Franck. 2017. Gainesville: University Press of Florida.
Flora of Florida, Volume V: Dicotyledons, Gisekiaceae through Boraginaceae. Richard P. Wunderlin, Bruce F. Hansen, and Alan R. Franck. 2018. Gainesville: University Press of Florida.
Flora of Florida, Volume VI: Dicotyledons, Convolvulaceae through Paulowniaceae. Richard P. Wunderlin, Bruce F. Hansen, and Alan R. Franck. 2019. Gainesville: University Press of Florida.
Flora of Florida, Volume VII: Dicotyledons, Orobanchaceae through Asteraceae. Richard P. Wunderlin, Bruce F. Hansen, and Alan R. Franck. 2020. Gainesville: University Press of Florida.
Flowering Plants of Florida: A Guide to Common Families. Wendy B. Zomlefer. 1989. Gainesville: Biological Illustrations, Inc. OUT OF PRINT
Guide to the Vascular Plants of Florida. Richard P. Wunderlin and Bruce F. Hansen. 2011 (Third Edition). Gainesville: University Press of Florida.
Guide to the Vascular Plants of the Florida Panhandle. A. F. Clewell. 1985. Tallahassee: University Press of Florida.
How to Identify Plants. H. D. Harrington. 1957. Athens OH: Ohio University Press.
The Nature of Plants: An Introduction to How Plants Work. Craig Huegel. 2019. Gainesville: University Press of Florida.
Miscellaneous
Adventures of a Transplanted Gardener. Advice for New Florida Gardeners. Ginny Stibolt. 2022. Gainesville: University Press of Florida.
Florida's Living Beaches: A Guide for the Curious Beachcomber. Dawn and Blair Witherington. Sarasota: Pineapple Press. 2007.
How to Read a Florida Gulf Coast Beach. Tonya Clayton. 2012. Chapel Hill: Univ. North Carolina Press.
Identification and Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas (2nd ed.). Karen A. Langeland, H. M. Cherry, C. M. McCormick, and Kathy Craddock Burks. 2008. Gainesville: Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Publications, University of Florida. Download PDF of 1st Edition.
Journeys Through Paradise: Pioneering Naturalists in the Southeast. Gail Fishman. 2017. Gainesville: University Press of Florida.
Rare Plants of South Florida: Their History, Conservation and Restoration. George D. Gann, Keith A. Bradley & Steve W. Woodmansee. 2002. Miami: Institute for Regional Conservation. OUT OF PRINT.
The Young Naturalist's Guide to Florida. Peggy Lantz and Wendy Hale. 2nd Edition, 2006. Sarasota: Pineapple Press.
