December Guild Challenge

Designed for Ocala, Florida planting zone 9 but, with a little local weather checking, these can be adapted to other areas. Always research what works in your yard.

Build at least one perennial-first guild this month

December is prime time for dormant, bare-root plantings in Central Florida—cool soil, low stress, and steady rooting. Pick one of the three guild “recipes” that matches your sun, drainage, and wind. Arrange by layers and you’re set.

Legend

Florida Native = Native Florida-Friendly = FL-Friendly

P = Perennial A = Annual (cool-season where relevant)

N-fixer = adds nitrogen DA = dynamic accumulator

Orientation assumes top = wind/cold side (often N/NW)

Quick Site-Reading

• Sun: Full (>6h), Part (3–6h), Dappled.

• Drainage: Free-draining vs heavy; add organic matter; use DA roots (e.g., daikon) to fracture tight soil.

• Wind/Frost: Put evergreens on windward/cold side; avoid low frost pockets.

• Soil reaction: Create acid islands for acid lovers (sulfur + pine bark/needles).

• Access/Wildlife: Leave harvest paths; protect tender starts where critters are active.

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Guild Recipe A (Full sun, trellis): Muscadine Trellis Pocket

Best fit: Full sun; free-draining; great along a fence or sturdy trellis.
Circle: ~10–12 ft pocket beneath the wire(s) or arbor.
Anchor (P, FL-Friendly): Muscadine grape (Vitis rotundifolia cultivars; self-fertile types simplify).

Arrangement

• Wind filter (P, Native): Yaupon holly hedgelet just N/NW of the trellis ends.

• Shrubs (P, Native): Beautyberry or Walter’s viburnum at the sun-exposed ends (pollinator draw).

• Herb matrix (P): Oregano + Society garlic in the south arc to confuse pests and provide culinary use.

• Ground layer (A): Crimson/white clover broadcast under the canopy; Calendula/Cilantro at the sunny drip line.

• DA (A): Daikon in compacted wedges between vine posts.

Download the Muscadine shopping list HERE

Plant List

• Yaupon holly — evergreen wind filter (P, Native)

• Beautyberry — pollinators/birds (P, Native)

• Oregano / Society garlic — aromatic matrix (P)

• Clover + Calendula/Cilantro — N & nectar (A)

• Daikon Radish — soil buster (A)

Native-only swap ideas:

Anchor options (P):

• Summer grape (Vitis aestivalis) trained similarly;

• Muscadine seedling (local ecotype).

Wind/screen (P):

• Yaupon holly

• Wax myrtle

• Simpson’s stopper

Shrub layer (P):

• Beautyberry

• Walter’s viburnum

Aromatics (P/A):

• Spotted beebalm

• Wild yarrow

Groundcover (P):

• Frogfruit

• Sunshine mimosa

N-fixers (A/P):

• Carolina clover, or Buffalo clover

• Partridge pea (warm-season)

DA (A):

• Evening primrose

• American wild carrot

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Guild Recipe B (Full sun, hedge/edge): Blackberry Edge Ring

Best fit: Full sun; edges/paths; tolerant of varied soils if drainage is OK.
Circle: ~8–10 ft ring along a path or bed edge.
Anchor (P, FL-Friendly): Thornless blackberry (e.g., ‘Ouachita’, ‘Natchez’).

Arrangement

• Wind filter (P, Native): Wax myrtle just N/NW (kept pruned).

• Shrubs (P, Native): Beautyberry pair on E/W arcs (~3–4 ft from canes).

• Herb matrix (P): Thyme + Rosemary in the south arc (aromatic, bee forage).

• Ground layer (A): Strawberries (cool-season living mulch) between cane clusters.

• N-fixer (A): Clover broadcast now through mulch; rake in lightly.

• DA (A): Daikon in pockets between cane clusters.

Download the Blackberry shopping list HERE

Plant List

• Wax myrtle — wind buffer, wildlife (P, Native)

• Beautyberry — pollinators/birds (P, Native)

• Thyme / Rosemary — aromatic matrix (P)

• Strawberries — living mulch (A, cool season)

• Clover — N & nectar (A)

• Daikon Radish — bio-tillage (A)

Native-only swap ideas:

Anchor alternatives (P):

• Dewberry (Rubus trivialis, rambling; train along low wire)

• Calusa blackberry local selections

Screens (P):

• Yaupon holly

• Simpson’s stopper

Aromatics (P/A):

• Spotted beebalm

• Blue curls / scarlet calamint

Groundcovers (P):

• Frogfruit

• Sunshine mimosa

N-fixers (A/P):

• Carolina clover, or Buffalo clover

• Partridge pea (warm-season)

DA (A):

• Evening primrose

• American wild carrot

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Guild Recipe C (Full sun, free-draining): Olive Pocket (Arbequina/Arbosana)

Best fit: Full sun; free-draining to sandy soil; low–moderate fertility (avoid soggy spots).
Circle: ~10–12 ft pocket.
Anchor (P, FL-Friendly): Olive (Olea europaea — compact “Arbequina/Arbosana” types are common).

Arrangement

• Wind screen (P, Native): Yaupon holly or Simpson’s stopper just N/NW of the pocket.

• Shrubs (P, Native): Beautyberry pair on E/W arcs (~3–4 ft off trunk).

• Herb matrix (P): Rosemary + Sage in the sunny south arc.

• Ground layer (A): Crimson clover broadcast into mulch; Nasturtium near the drip line.

• DA (A): Daikon pockets where soil is tight.

Download the Olive shopping list HERE

Plant List

• Yaupon / Simpson’s stopper — wind filter (P, Native)

• Beautyberry — pollinators/birds (P, Native)

• Rosemary / Sage — aromatic matrix (P)

• Crimson clover / Nasturtium — N & nectar (A)

• Daikon Radish — bio-tillage (A)

Native-only swap ideas:

Anchor alternatives (P):

• Red mulberry

• American persimmon (if you want all-native fruit anchors)

Screens (P):

• Yaupon holly

• Wax myrtle

• Simpson’s stopper

Aromatics/flowers (P/A):

• Spotted beebalm

• Blue curls / scarlet calamint

Groundcovers (P):

• Frogfruit

• Sunshine mimosa (rim)

N-fixers (A/P):

• Carolina clover, or Buffalo clover

• Partridge pea (warm-season)

DA (A):

• Evening primrose

• American wild carrot