Florida Department of Transportation Wildflower Program

FDOT is a leader in recognizing the values of native wildflowers

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) initiated the Florida Wildflower Program for state roadsides in 1963 as the result of a contractor who bought some pasture grass for a roadway project along SR19/US27, just south of Tallahassee. Unknown to him at the time the pasture from which this grass came from had been over seeded with Crimson Clover (Trifolium incarnatum) in previous years by the farmer for winter cattle forage and to enrich the pasture soil with nitrogen. Local lore has it that the spring of 1963 was perfect for the clover to bloom spectacularly. So spectacular was the site in fact that the FDOT was inundated with telephone calls from folks asking the name of the flower.  Employees in the Florida Department of Transportation did some research and it all went from there.

While the FDOT is no longer able to provide wildflower seed, posters, pamphlets, and related programs due to the current state of emergency we are in, the planting of wildflowers on state roads is expected to continue.

Sources: Environmental Management Office Wildflower Program; Florida Wildflower Program Website