Native-ish: Tropical Sage, Butterfly Needles, and a Botanical Identity Crisis

Two of Florida's most familiar wildflowers have apparently been living under assumed identities. Tropical Sage (Salvia coccinea) and Butterfly Needles (Bidens alba), longtime favorites of Florida native plant enthusiasts, have officially been reclassified as nonnative to Florida. And I have to admit, this one surprised me.

I love Tropical Sage.

LIKE, LOVE IT.

Look at it.

Those delicate little red flowers, the way they sway in the breeze, and the hummingbirds that seem to find them irresistible. And the smell! It is INCREDIBLE. Give the foliage a little rub between your fingers and you'll understand. It has that wonderfully distinctive, slightly pungent, herbal fragrance that makes me want to stick my nose into every plant I pass. It's a member of the mint family, after all. Fragrant foliage is practically a family tradition. So imagine my surprise when I learned that one of our favorite little garden companions isn't technically a Florida native after all. Ughhhhhhhhh…

What happened?

According to a recent University of Florida IFAS Extension article, botanists have been reconsidering the origins of several wildflowers we've long accepted as native. Researchers examined historical botanical records, herbarium specimens, ecological observations, and genetic evidence. What they discovered was that there wasn't convincing evidence that Tropical Sage or Butterfly Needles naturally occurred in Florida before European colonization. In other words, these plants may have arrived here with a little help from humans. They join Blanketflower another familiar Florida wildflower that was reclassified in 2020. Three botanical identity crises in six years! Of course, the plants themselves haven't changed. The flowers are still beautiful. The bees are still visiting. The hummingbirds haven't received the memo. What has changed is our understanding of how these plants got here.

Here's where things get interesting, because these words are often used interchangeably when they actually mean very different things. Let’s talk about it.

A native plant occurs naturally in a particular region without human introduction. Native plants have developed relationships with local wildlife, insects, soils, and ecosystems over long periods of time.

A naturalized plant originated somewhere else but has established itself and reproduces without human assistance. It's essentially moved into the neighborhood and made itself comfortable.

An invasive plant is a nonnative species that spreads and causes harm. Think of a houseguest who arrives for the weekend, takes over the refrigerator, and eventually starts dismantling your furniture.

Fortunately, Tropical Sage and Butterfly Needles aren't currently considered invasive in Florida's natural areas. They're naturalized. And that's an important distinction. But the butterflies still love them! Absolutely. And so do the bees. One of the most interesting things about ecological gardening is that nature doesn't always fit neatly into the categories we create. A flower doesn't suddenly stop producing nectar because a botanist changes its classification. A hummingbird doesn't inspect a plant's historical records before stopping for lunch. Tropical Sage still offers nectar to hummingbirds and butterflies. Butterfly Needles still attracts an impressive assortment of pollinating insects. But there's another important distinction worth understanding. Native plants often support specialized ecological relationships that nonnative plants cannot fully replace. Some native insects depend on particular plants for reproduction, food, or shelter. A garden filled with flowers may provide plenty of nectar while still missing important pieces of the local food web. That's why native plants remain such an important foundation for ecological landscaping. It's not simply about attracting wildlife. It's about supporting the relationships that allow wildlife to thrive.

So, should we pull everything out? Please don't go ripping your Tropical Sage out of the ground in a botanical panic. If it's thriving in your garden, attracting pollinators, and behaving itself, there's no immediate reason to remove it simply because its classification has changed. However, if you're planning a new garden and want to prioritize Florida natives, this is a wonderful opportunity to explore other species. Florida has some extraordinary native wildflowers, including native salvias, that deserve a place in our landscapes.

At Bluebird Growers, we approach gardening with a combination of ecological knowledge and practicality. We love native plants, but we also recognize that a beautiful, productive, wildlife-friendly garden doesn't have to be exclusively native.

The important thing is understanding what we're planting and why. Perhaps my favorite part of this whole discovery is the reminder that science is constantly evolving. We tend to think of botanical classifications as permanent facts. A plant is native. A plant is not native. End of story. But ecology is wonderfully complicated. New genetic research, historical discoveries, and improved scientific methods can change what we thought we knew about even the most familiar plants. And isn't that part of the fun of gardening? There's always something new to learn. Even when you've spent years growing, photographing, recommending, and admiring a particular flower. As for me, I'll still be growing Tropical Sage. I'll still be watching the hummingbirds visit its little red flowers. And I'll definitely still be rubbing its leaves between my fingers every chance I get.

Bluebird Growers is an ecological landscaping business based in St. Augustine, Florida. We design and install native and Florida-friendly gardens throughout Northeast Florida. Our work explores the intersection of horticulture, ecology, and art.

Further reading: UF/IFAS Extension: Two Wildflowers—Tropical Sage and Butterfly Needles—Reclassified as Non-Native to Florida