Researchers to define wildlife-friendly plants

Added on 25 October 2023

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Researchers to define wildlife-friendly plants

Growers want to produce wildlife-friendly plants, and consumers want to buy them, at least in theory, new University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) research shows.

While consumers say they’re eager to purchase wildlife-friendly plants, some aren’t sure they know them when they see them, according to UF/IFAS researchers. Further, experts want to make sure the plants are indeed wildlife friendly.

“Our research shows there is a lot of interest in buying and growing wildlife-friendly plants among Floridians, and there are also opportunities to improve public understanding of the concept itself as well as how to source such plants,” says Laura Warner, a UF/IFAS Associate Professor of Agricultural Education and Communication and a study co-author.

Eventually, researchers want to establish “University of Florida Biodiversity Certified Plants.” UF/IFAS scientists hope to put a label on potted plants to ensure the buyer knows the plant is “biodiversity certified.”

First, though, they’re trying to gauge consumer and grower interest in wildlife-friendly plants. To do that, researchers must define “wildlife friendly.”