Overview of Native Wildflower Seed Production in Florida

Jeffrey G. Norcini

University of Florida/IFASNorth Florida Research & Education Center, Quincy

http://nfrec.ifas.ufl.edu/norcini

Wildflower Coop. 20 growers / 6 advisors

Wildflower Seed Production Growers

Floridawildflowers.com

Wildflower Seed Co-op

Coreopsis basalis - Dye Flower 2700 LBS

Coreopsis lanceolata - Lanceleaf Coreopsis 107 LBS

Coreopsis leavenworthii - Leavenworth's Coreopsis 0 LBS

Gaillardia pulchella - Blanketflower 0

Ipomopsis rubra - Standing Cypress 0

Phlox drummondii - Drummond Phlox 0

Rudbeckia hirta - Black-eyed Susan 0

Rudbeckia mollis - Softhair coneflower 34 LBS

Trifolium reflexum - Buffalo Clover 0

Vernonia gigantea - Iron Weed 5 LBS

ERNST Southern Native Seeds, LLCSuwannee County, FL

A Division of:ERNST Conservation Seeds, LLP

Meadville, PA

http://www.ernstseed.com

Plant Origin Matters

Origin of native wildflowers could affect performance and survival.

Many of the best stands of wildflowers are….

• Native• Naturally-occurring

Coreopsis basalisGoldenmaneTickseed

Coreopsis nudataSwamp Tickseed

Mimosa strigillosaPowderpuff

Sisyrinchium angustifoliumNarrowleaf Blue-eyed Grass

Rudbeckia hirtaBlack-eyed Susan

All of these wildflowers ….

• Adapted to our climate• Can be thought of as Florida

“ecotypes”

• Population of a species that’s adapted to a particular set of environmental conditions

• Occurs via natural selection

What is an ecotype?

The bottom line…

The origin of the seed or plant can make a difference in performance.

Comm.

C-Fla.

N-Fla.

Rudbeckia hirta (Black-eyed Susan)

Central Florida ecotype flowering while flooded -

Sept. 1998

Rudbeckia hirta (Black-eyed Susan)

Advantages of Florida ecotype

• Longer living• Longer flowering• Longer period of seed production

facilitates long-term sustainabilityfacilitates expansion of population

Implications? Rudbeckia hirta

Comm.

Fla. Eco.

Coreopsis lanceolata Lanceleaf Tickseed

Advantages of Florida ecotype• Flowers first year after seeding• Flowers earlier• Low growing

reduced mowing; lower costs

Implications? Coreopsis lanceolata

Florida Wildflower Seed Production

Two types of cropping systems:

• Traditional field planting

• Landscape fabric system

Wildflower Seed Production

Wildflower Seed Production Planting

Broadcast Seeding

Harvest Natural Stands

Wildflower Seed Production Cropping Sys.

Parallel rows of landscape fabric with 2” to 4” gap; plus drip tubing

Wildflower Seed Production Planting

Row Seeding

Wildflower Seed Production Planting

Transplants

Injector system for landscape fabric prod.

Wildflower Seed Production Fertilizer

Wildflower Seed Production

Important issue from site prep marketing

• Crop interference• Eliminating weed seed from final product

• Limited number of herbicides

Wildflower Seed Production

Wildflower Seed Production HarvestingVacuuming

Combining

Vacuuming

Adjustable shroud

Wildflower Seed Production Harvesting

Seed drying

Prototype drying bin for tobacco box barn

Wildflower Seed Production Seed Drying

• Growers need to be innovative

• Work with a grower that has seed cleaners or access to them- contact/join Fla. seed prod. co-op

• FDACS central processing facility

Wildflower Seed Production Seed Cleaning

Rotary Screen

Wildflower Seed Production Seed Cleaning

• Cool, dry environment (refrigerator)

temp. + RH 100

ex.: 35oF, 40% RH 35+40 = 75 (best is RH < 50%, and total < 75)

• Protect against insects and rodents

Wildflower Seed Production Storage

Tests• % Germination• Total % viable seed

= % germ seed + % dormant seed• % Purity by weight (want >90%)• Noxious weed seed – zero tolerance

Wildflower Seed Production Seed Testing

Southern Seed Certification Assoc., Inc.P.O. Box 2619Auburn, AL 36831Phone: 334-844-4995www.ag.auburn.edu/ssca//

Wildflower Seed Production Certification

Thank You

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This presentation brought to you by the

Small Farms/Alternative Enterprises Focus Team.