January Guild Challenge

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

January is ideal for dormant, bare-root or container perennials in Central Florida—cool soil, low stress, 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 (>6 hours), Part (3–6hours), 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: Most fruit trees prefer near-neutral; amend locally as needed.
• Access/Wildlife: Leave harvest paths; protect tender starts where critters are active.

Guild Recipe A (Full sun, centerpiece): Mulberry Anchor Ring

Best fit: Full sun; wind-tolerant once established; avoid chronically soggy spots.
Circle: ~12–14 ft ring; keep ~4–5 ft clear around trunk.
Anchor (P, FL-Friendly): Mulberry (choose dwarf/compact cultivar if space is tight).

Arrangement
• Wind filter (P, Native): Yaupon holly hedgelet N/NW of the ring (trim airy, not dense).
• Shrubs (P, Native): Beautyberry or Walter’s viburnum on E/W arcs (~3–4 ft off trunk).
• Herb matrix (P): Oregano + Society garlic in the sunny south arc (pest confusion + kitchen use).
• Ground layer (A): Crimson/white clover broadcast through mulch; Calendula/Cilantro at sunny rim.
• DA (A): Daikon in open pockets between shrubs; chop-and-drop before woody.

Mulberry Anchor Ring Full sun • 12–14 ft ring • Perennial-first with cool-season helpers Mulberry Yaupon holly (screen) Beautyberry Beautyberry Oregano Society garlic Clover (broadcast) Calendula / Cilantro Daikon (DA pockets) N S E W N (wind/cold side) Center Mulberry in full sun with a wide mulch ring. Yaupon holly on N/NW as a light wind filter; Beautyberry on E/W arcs. Oregano + Society garlic form an aromatic strip in the sunny south arc. Broadcast clover; add Calendula/Cilantro and Daikon in open pockets. Legend Anchor (P) Shrub/Screen (P) Herb (P) Ground layer (A) N-fixer / DA (A)

Download the Mulberry 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):
• Red mulberry (site-appropriate)
• Chickasaw plum (small native fruit anchor)
Wind/screen (P):
• Yaupon holly
• Wax myrtle
• Simpson’s stopper
Shrub layer (P):
• Beautyberry
• Walter’s viburnum
Aromatics (P/A):
• Spotted beebalm
• Calamint spp.
Groundcover (P):
• Frogfruit
• Sunshine mimosa (outer rim)
N-fixers (A/P):
• Carolina clover, or Buffalo clover
• Partridge pea (warm-season)
DA (A):
• Evening primrose
• American wild carrot

Guild Recipe B (Full sun to part sun, moist site): Elderberry Wet-Pocket

Best fit: Full sun to part sun; thrives in moist or seasonally wet areas (swales, downspouts, rain-garden edges).
Circle: ~10–12 ft ring per clump; thin stems as needed for airflow.
Anchor (P, Native): Elderberry (American type, Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis).

Arrangement
• Wind/backdrop (P, Native): Wax myrtle N/NW (light, airy—avoid heavy shade).
• Shrub (P, Native): Walter’s viburnum on E or W shoulder for pollinators/structure.
• Herb matrix (P): Mint or Lemon balm at the outer rim (contain if vigorous); Chives/Garlic chives near paths.
• Ground layer (A): Clover broadcast through mulch; Calendula in sunny breaks.
• DA (A): Daikon in firmer pockets (avoid the boggiest core).

Elderberry Wet-Pocket Full sun–part sun • 10–12 ft ring • Moist-site anchor with cool-season helpers Elderberry Wax myrtle (backdrop) Walter’s viburnum Mint / Lemon balm Chives Clover (broadcast) Calendula (sunny gaps) Daikon (DA pockets) N S E W N (wind/cold side) Center elderberry in a moist pocket; part sun is fine. Wax myrtle on N/NW as an airy backdrop; Walter’s viburnum on one shoulder. Mint/Lemon balm at the outer rim. Chives near paths and sunny breaks. Broadcast clover; Calendula in sunny gaps; Daikon only in firmer zones. Legend Anchor (P) Shrub/Screen (P) Herb (P) Ground layer (A) N-fixer / DA (A)

Download the Elderberry shopping list HERE

Plant List
• Wax myrtle — light wind/backdrop (P, Native)
• Walter’s viburnum — structure/pollinators (P, Native)
• Mint/Lemon balm — edge herb (P)
• Chives/Garlic chives — pest confusion (P)
• Clover + Calendula — N & nectar (A)
• Daikon Radish — bio-tillage (A)

Native-only swap ideas:

Anchor alternatives (P):
• Elderberry (primary)
• Chickasaw plum (on drier edges)
Screens (P):
• Wax myrtle
• Yaupon holly
• Simpson’s stopper
Shrubs (P):
• Beautyberry
• Walter’s viburnum
Aromatics/flowers (P/A):
• Spotted beebalm
• Blue curls
• Native asters (fall nectar)
Groundcovers (P):
• Frogfruit (drier edges)
• Sunshine mimosa (outer rim)
N-fixers (A/P):
• Carolina clover
• Desmodium spp.
DA (A):
• Evening primrose
• Goldenrod


Guild Recipe C (Full sun, free-draining): Gulf-Type Plum Pocket Ring

Best fit: Full sun with airflow; prefers free-draining soil (avoid persistent wet).
Circle: ~10–12 ft ring; keep ~4 ft clear around trunk.
Anchor (P, FL-Friendly): Gulf-type Japanese plum (match pollination partners).

Arrangement
• Wind filter (P, Native): Yaupon holly N/NW (light filter, not a dense hedge).
• Shrub (P, Native): Beautyberry on one shoulder for wildlife/pollinators.
• Herb matrix (P): Oregano + Society garlic in the sunny south arc.
• Ground layer (A): Clover broadcast; Calendula/Cilantro at the sunny rim.
• DA (A): Daikon in pockets away from trunk; chop-and-drop for mulch.

Gulf-Type Plum Pocket Ring Full sun • 10–12 ft ring Free-draining site with cool-season helpers Gulf-type Plum Yaupon holly (screen) Beautyberry Beautyberry Oregano Society garlic Clover (broadcast) Calendula / Cilantro Daikon (DA pockets) N S E W N (wind/cold side) Center plum in full sun with a wide mulch ring. Yaupon on N/NW as a light filter; avoid heavy shade. Beautyberry on E/W arcs for pollinators and wildlife. Oregano + Society garlic in the sunny south arc. Broadcast clover; place Calendula/Cilantro at the rim. Daikon in pockets away from trunk; chop before woody. Legend Anchor (P) Shrub/Screen (P) Herb (P) Ground layer (A) N-fixer / DA (A)

Download the Plum shopping list HERE

Plant List
• Yaupon holly — light 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 alternatives (P):
• Gulf Rose plum
• Chickasaw plum
• Flatwoods plum
Screens (P):
• Yaupon holly
• Wax myrtle
Shrubs (P):
• Beautyberry
• Walter’s viburnum
Aromatics/flowers (P/A):
• Spotted beebalm
• Calamint spp.
• Blanketflower (front edge color)
Groundcovers (P):
• Frogfruit
• Sunshine mimosa (outer rim)
N-fixers (A/P):
• Carolina clover
• Partridge pea (warm-season)
DA (A):
• American wild carrot
• Evening primrose

Donald Richardson
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