February Guild Challeng

Written By Donald Richardson

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

Cool soils + frequent light rain make February prime for planting woody perennials (bare-root or container). 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., chicory/daikon) to fracture tight soil.

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

  • Soil reaction: Match anchor needs—avoid acid islands for citrus; do create acid islands for ericaceous species.

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

Guild Recipe A (Full sun, cold-tolerant citrus): Satsuma Mandarin Ring

Best fit: Full sun; free-draining to sandy loam; light frost OK (very cold-hardy among citrus).
Circle: ~10–12 ft ring.
Anchor (P, FL-Friendly): Satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu; e.g., ‘Owari’, ‘Brown Select’).

Arrangement

  • Wind filter (P, Native): Eastern red cedar on N/NW as a narrow screen.

  • Shrubs (P, Native): Inkberry holly pair on E/W arcs (evergreen pollinator support; well-behaved).

  • Herb matrix (P/FL-Friendly): Garlic chives + Mexican tarragon in the south arc for pest confusion and nectar.

  • Ground layer (P, FL-Friendly): Perennial peanut as a living mulch where you won’t mow.

  • Cool-season pop-ins (A): Sweet alyssum along the sunny dripline for early nectar.

  • DA / soil busters (A): Chicory pockets in compacted wedges; chop-and-drop.

Satsuma Mandarin Anchor Ring Full sun • 10–12 ft ring • Cold-tolerant citrus with diversified helpers Satsuma mandarin Eastern red cedar (screen) Inkberry Inkberry Garlic chives Mexican tarragon Perennial peanut Perennial peanut Sweet alyssum Chicory (DA pockets) Chicory (DA) N S E W N (wind/cold side) Use a narrow evergreen screen on N/NW; keep it light to allow air flow. Place inkberry on E/W arcs ~3–4 ft from trunk for structure without crowding. Herb strip in sunny south arc; perennial peanut between paths as living mulch. Legend Anchor (P) Shrub/Screen (P) Herb (P) Ground layer (P/A) N-fixer / DA (A)

Download the Satsuma shopping list HERE

Plant List:

  • Satsuma Mandarin (anchor) — Citrus unshiu; e.g., ‘Owari’, ‘Brown Select’ (P, FL-Friendly)

  • Eastern Red Cedar — narrow wind filter (P, Native)

  • Inkberry Holly — evergreen understory (P, Native)

  • Mexican Tarragon / Garlic Chives — aromatic matrix (P/FL-Friendly)

  • Perennial Peanut — living mulch (P, FL-Friendly)

  • Sweet Alyssum — early nectar (A)

  • Chicory — DA roots (A)

Native-only swap ideas:

Anchor alternatives (P):

  • flatwoods Plum (Prunus umbellata) trained central

  • Chickasaw Plum (P. angustifolia) if you prefer all-native fruit.

Screens (P):

  • Yaupon Holly

  • Dahoon Holly (Ilex cassine) where moist.

Understory shrubs (P):

  • Fakahatchee Grass (Tripsacum dactyloides) clumps on E/W arcs for structure and habitat.

Aromatics / flowers (P/A):

  • Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)

  • Blue Curls (Trichostema dichotomum) outer rim.

Groundcovers (P):

  • Frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora)

  • Twinflower (Dyschoriste oblongifolia)

N-fix/DA (A/P):

  • Lupine (Lupinus diffusus) on dry berms.
    *Use Florida-adapted sources.

Guild Recipe B (Part sun, wetter edge): Mayhaw Wet-Pocket

Best fit: Part sun; seasonally wet or low areas that drain between rains; tolerates brief “wet feet.”
Circle: ~10–12 ft pocket.
Anchor (P, Native): Mayhaw (Crataegus aestivalis/oppenheimiana complex; grafted selections where available).

Arrangement

  • Backstop (P, Native): Virginia willow / Sweetspire on the down-slope arc for spring bloom/pollinators.

  • Moisture shrub (P, Native): Elderberry on the outer rim (kept coppiced to control size).

  • Herbs (P/FL-Friendly): Cuban oregano on the sunny south arc (container or edged—spreader).

  • Wet-tolerant accents (P, Native): Blue flag iris clumps for pollinators and rhizome mass.

  • Ground layer (A/P): River oats on the moister rim; reseeds—thin as needed.

  • N-fixers (A): Austrian winter peas in small patches for biomass; chop-and-drop before seed.

Mayhaw Wet-Pocket Part sun • 10–12 ft pocket • Moist edge with wet-tolerant companions Mayhaw (anchor) Virginia willow / Sweetspire Elderberry (rim) Blue flag iris Blue flag iris Cuban oregano Cuban oregano River oats (rim) Austrian winter peas DA roots (optional) N S E W N (wind/cold side) Place moisture lovers down-slope; keep elderberry coppiced to manage size. Edge Cuban oregano; use iris clumps to stabilize wetter rim sections. Seed Austrian winter peas in patches; chop-and-drop before pods harden. Legend Anchor (P) Shrub/Screen (P) Herb (P) Ground layer (P/A) N-fixer / DA (A)

Download the Mayhaw shopping list HERE

Plant List:

  • Mayhaw (anchor) — Crataegus spp. (P, Native) Virginia Willow / Sweetspire — down-slope bloom (P, Native)

  • Elderberry — fast shrub & nectar (P, Native)

  • Cuban Oregano — aromatic matrix (P, FL-Friendly; edge to contain)

  • Blue Flag Iris — wet-edge clumps (P, Native)

  • River Oats — living mulch on moist rim (P, Native)

  • Austrian Winter Peas — N-fix & mulch (A)

Native-only swap ideas

Anchor alternatives (P):

  • American Persimmon on a slightly higher mound

  • Flatwoods Plum on drier edge.

Moist shrubs (P):

  • Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)

  • Walter’s Viburnum in moister soils.

Herb/forb layer (P):

  • Virginia Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum)

  • Blue Mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum).

Groundcovers (P):

  • Frogfruit; Lizard’s Tail (Saururus cernuus) at wettest margin.

N-fix/DA (A/P):

  • Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata, warm-season)

  • Evening Primrose for DA roots.

Guild Recipe C (Full sun, free-draining): Low-Chill Peach Anchor Ring

Best fit: Full sun; free-draining to sandy loam; prune for airflow to reduce disease.
Circle: ~12–14 ft ring (peach wants a bit more elbow room than citrus).
Anchor (P, FL-Friendly): Low-chill peach (UF/FL series, e.g., ‘Florida Prince’, ‘UFBest’—match chill hours).

Arrangement

  • Wind screen (P, Florida-Friendly): East Palatka holly or Savannah holly—narrow N/NW screen.

  • Shrubs/structure (P, Native): Gallberry (inkberry) on E/W arcs (smaller forms); or clumps of Fakahatchee grass for airflow.

  • Herb matrix (P/A): Chives + Parsley low in the south arc; Borage as a cool-season bee magnet near the dripline.

  • Ground layer (P, FL-Friendly): Perennial peanut between access paths; mow or edge as needed.

  • DA roots (A): Dandelion/Chicory pockets; chop-and-drop before seed to cycle minerals.

Low-Chill Peach Anchor Ring Full sun • 12–14 ft ring • Prune for airflow; diversify layers Low-chill peach Holly screen (N/NW) Gallberry / Fakahatchee Gallberry / Fakahatchee Chives Parsley Borage Perennial peanut Perennial peanut Chicory (DA) Chicory (DA) N S E W N (wind/cold side) Use a narrow holly screen on N/NW for wind without blocking air flow. E/W arcs: gallberry or Fakahatchee clumps for structure and habitat. Herb strip south: chives, parsley, borage; perennial peanut between paths. DA roots (chicory) in compacted wedges; chop-and-drop pre-seed. Legend Anchor (P) Shrub/Screen (P) Herb (P/A) Ground layer (P) N-fixer / DA (A)

Download the Peach shopping list HERE

Plant List:

  • Low-chill peach (anchor) — UF/FL series, e.g., ‘Florida Prince’, ‘Tripical Beauty’ (match chill hours) (P, FL-Friendly)

  • East Palatka/Savannah Holly — narrow wind filter (P, FL-Friendly)

  • Gallberry or Fakahatchee Grass — structure & habitat (P, Native)

  • Chives / Parsley / Borage — pest confusion & pollinator draw (P/A)

  • Perennial Peanut — living mulch (P, FL-Friendly)

  • Chicory — DA roots (A)

Native-only swap ideas

Anchor alternatives (P):

  • Flatwoods Plum

  • Chickasaw Plum (native, smaller crowns).

Screens (P):

  • Yaupon Holly (narrow pruned)

  • Eastern Red Cedar columnar selections.

Understory / flowers (P):

  • Spotted Beebalm

  • Blue Curls

  • Scarlet Calamint for nectar in sunny rims.

Groundcovers (P):

N-fix/DA (A/P):

  • Carolina Clover (cool-season)

  • Partridge Pea (warm-season)

  • American Wild Carrot as DA

Donald Richardson
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January Guild Challenge