Wildflower Rain Garden

Located in Lake David Park you can find the Native Wildflower Rain Garden. Funded by the Viva Florida Grant from the Florida Wildflower Foundation, the rain garden features native wildflowers that beautify the park and provide a range of environmental services. Rain gardens are useful for many reasons. They filter pollutants from runoff before entering waterways, recharge groundwater systems, create pollinator habitat, and can alleviate potential flooding and drainage issues.  

The Wildflower Rain Garden consists of an entirely Florida native palette, filled with wildflowers and grasses. Native plants are adapted to the soil and water conditions already present. Native wildflowers provide a habitat for native pollinators and oftentimes have deeper root systems which reduces soil erosion. Their presence can improve soil health, prevent erosion, and improve water quality. Below are the native flowering plant species that are present in our Native Wildflower Rain Garden. 

  • Burr Marigold (Bidens laevis) 
  • Pink Cone Flower (Echinacea purpurea) 
  • Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis) 
  • Blue Flag Iris (Iris virginica) 
  • Wand Goldenrod (Asteraceae compositae) 
  • Mangrove Spider Lily (Hymenocallis latifolia) 
  • Pineywoods Dropseed (Sporobolus junceus) 
  • Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) 
  • Blue Mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum) 

Before planting could begin, the site for the rain garden had to be determined and solarized. A natural depression adjacent to Lake David’s shoreline was chosen as water naturally would collect here and could benefit from being filtered before entering the groundwater or the lake. Solarization is a process used to naturally control weeds. The tilled surface is covered with a clear plastic, creating a greenhouse effect. The soil is heated to high temperatures, which organically removes weeds over a two-month period. Solarization creates a weed-free environment before the plants are installed in the garden.  

Community volunteers and city staff came out to the site in March of 2022 for the planting installation. About 240 wildflowers and native grasses were planted along the 66’ x 10’ stretch. Planted with a variety of different native wildflowers, the rain garden has a year-long rotation of flowers in bloom. Educational signage can be found on site to learn more about rain gardens as well as Florida native plants.  

 For more information about rain gardens and native plants, check out the links below! 

Florida's Native Wildflowers | Florida Wildflower Foundation (flawildflowers.org)

https://lnt.org/what-are-the-benefits-of-wildflowers/ 

https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/design/types-of-gardens/rain-gardens.html 

https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/wildflowers-for-all-seasons.html 

https://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/en/newsroom/2018/04/10/a-rain-garden-is-an-attractive-way-to-improve-water-quality 

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