Foreground L-R: American Beautyberry, Callicarpa
americana, Fakahatcheegrass, Tripsacum dactyloides,
Giant Leather Fern, Acrostichum danaefolium.
Over time, this planting will evolve as larger plants
crowd out smaller ones. Across the way, we see
the next grassy bank to be planted.
PHOTO: ANNIE SCHILLER
lems and was facing hefty fines for a pond
that could not comply with municipal code.
Sarasota County, focused on providing
healthy habitat, helped the association develop
a compliant work-around:
replacing turfgrass on the banks
with native plants. The result,
pond banks landscaped mostly
or entirely with native plants, is
an idea that every community
can adopt to protect and improve
We keep our area, Oak Court,
in kind of a natural lush setting.
The plants around the pond
contribute greatly to that image.”
“
water quality—even if littoral
shelf plantings are thriving. By
removing turfgrass and non-native plants,
the association eliminated mowing and fertilizing.
Weeds are managed manually once
a month. Best of all, the plants provide habitat
and seasonal beauty.
Do the homeowners like the results? Bob
Landry, longtime association board member
who has been working on grounds and
landscaping issues for the past ten years,
says “We are very happy with the result. We
keep our area, Oak Court, in kind of a natural
lush setting. The plants around the pond
contribute greatly to that image.” Oak Court
Association worked with Florida Native
Plants Nursery in Sarasota to select and install
attractive native plants that would
thrive on the pond bank and provide good
habitat value.
Looking for safe, healthy excitement?
Walk slowly around your pond, watch your
native plants and the enjoy the wildlife they
attract.
Plants Used
at Oak Court
Florida Native Plants Nursery focused
on selecting easy, attractive native plants
with habitat value. Most of the species
used are listed below.
Along the water’s edge:
Fakahatcheegrass
Tripsacum dactyloides
Giant Leather Fern
Acrostichum danaefolium
Horsetail
Equisetum species
Up the slope:
American Beautyberry
Callicarpa americana
Coontie
Zamia pumila
Dwarf Fakahatcheegrass
Tripsacum floridanum
Firebush
Hamelia patens
Saw Palmetto
Serenoa repens
Throughout, for color,
self-seeding native wildflowers:
Coreopsis
Coreopsis species
Native Porterweed
Stachytarpheta jamaicensis
Rose Milkweed
Asclepias incarnata
Starry Rosinweed
Silphium asteriscus
Tropical Salvia
Salvia coccinea
Work with your nearest
native nursery or trusted
online source to select
the best native plants
for your pond.
Romance! Here we see two tiny damselflies, specifically Rambur’s forktails, mating. These delicate
creatures eat loads of mosquitoes. If you don’t see insects around your pond, you probably have an
environmental problem. Do not spray. PHOTO: MARY KEIM
How can you keep a healthy community pond? Turn to page 11.
WWW.PLANTREALFLORIDA.ORG GUIDE FOR REAL FLORIDA GARDENERS FALL 2018 | 9
/WWW.PLANTREALFLORIDA.ORG