The City of Sunrise is a certified Community Wildlife Habitat! Help us continue our efforts:

1. Plant native and Florida-friendly plants
2. Reduce the use of pesticides
3. Certify your NWF Wildlife Habitat Garden
4. Enjoy the butterflies!

As outlined in our Sunrise Sustainability Action Plan, Sunrise strives to protect vital resources - including water, air, and natural areas - and to promote a culture of sustainability in our community.

Our Be A Butterfly Hero Program advances those goals by supporting biodiversity and habitat. Butterflies aren't the only creatures that benefit, however! By encouraging the planting of native habitat gardens, we are providing vital natural connective corridors and important food sources for our other local species like bees, birds, and burrowing owls.

Planting a butterfly garden in South Florida is one way to help restore some of the habitat that has been lost to development and provide resources for wild butterflies to thrive and grow. It's easy to Be A Butterfly Hero; it is not the size of the space that matters, but the type of plants you choose!

 Here's what you need:

• Provide food in the form of foliage or flowers that you are willing to have eaten by caterpillars or adult butterflies. Native plants that flower, have fruit and berries, nuts and acorns provide food for wildlife. 
• Have a water source. Even a small water feature or puddle area can be used by wildlife. Bird baths and fountains can be installed - but clean every few days to prevent mosquito breeding and bacterial contamination (simply scrub with a brush, no soap or bleach, please!). Is there a canal, lake, or pond close enough to see that doesn't cross a major roadway? If so, you already have a water source.
• Like us, wildlife need shelter. Make sure your space has bushy shrubs, ground cover plants, or a small wood or log pile.
• Ensure there are places to raise young.  For butterflies, that means you'll need larval "host plants" which are the plants that caterpillars eat (see 3 plants below to attract 7 butterflies). If you have a shade tree in your yard, that counts as a nesting place. You could also install a bat box.

Watch Episode 1: Butterfly Gardening from our new Good and Green Video Series to learn more about the 4 MUST HAVE's from the Sunrise Dan Pearl Library Butterfly Garden.

Why are butterflies important? 

Butterflies are pollinators that are important to our ecosystem and to agriculture – did you know that the production of 1 out of every 3 bites of food we eat depends on pollinators?

Butterfly and other pollinator populations are in decline and YOU can make a difference! For example, the monarch butterfly, whose populations have declined 90% over the last decade, need Milkweed. Butterflies need nectar from flowering plants, and they need host plants for the hungry caterpillars. Each type of butterfly likes certain plants. To help you get started, here are three plants that support seven butterflies!

Look for Florida native milkweed plants like Butterflyweed or Swamp Milkweed, rather then the non-native Tropical Milkweed.  Learn More

Useful Resources for Sustainable Landscaping and Butterfly Gardens 

• Broward County’s Naturescape Program has many resources  to help you create a NatureScape. 
• You do not have to have a big yard - you can create a habitat on a patio or balcony space. 
• Butterflies are not the only habitat you can plant. Attract birds and songbirds by planting native plants and trees in your yard. NatureScape Broward Flyer (pdf)
• Useful tips for Florida-Friendly Landscaping design and maintenance contracts, property managers, and HOAs.

What to plant and where?

Planting the "Right Plant, Right Place" is the key to a sustainable garden or landscape. Use these resources to help:

• Choose plants that are native and/or Florida-friendly for South Florida. Landscaping Guide to Plant Selection & Landscape Design
  •  You can request a FREE hard copy to be mailed to you using the Florida-friendly Materials Order Form
• Enter your zipcode on the Natives for Your Neighborhood website to get a list of recommended plants for our region.
• Use the Florida Native Plant Database to find native plants and create your yard-specific list of plants (you can select options based on the type of soil, and level of sun and moisture of the site you are wanting to plant)
• South Florida Water Management's landscaping website and the illustrated "Waterwise South Florida Landscapes" publication has great tips for design and maintenance for a water conserving landscape and a handy reference for native and Florida-friendly plants, trees, palms, and shrubs.

Where to get native plants?

• Shop local, Broward Parks typically host Native Plant Sales each summer.
• Check with local groups like Broward Native Plant Society which generates a list of local nurseries.
• Watch for local events that typically include plant giveaways like Water Matters Day (2nd Saturday of March), Gardening For Wildlife Workshops, and Sunrise Earth Day Festival.
• Sunrise Residential Landscape Beautification Program (2 free trees and installation for Sunrise homeowners east of Pine Island Road in Sunrise). Plant It Forward

Have a specific gardening question or an ailing plant? 

• You can email MasterGardener@broward.org with your questions! It is helpful to include a photo and a pencil next to the plant to provide indication of size.
• Prefer talking to someone? Bring your ailing plant (or a cutting) to one of the six Master Gardener Service Centers located throughout the County. The days and hours of service vary, so call the park of your choice to find out its schedule. Nearby locations are:
  • C.B. Smith Park, 900 N. Flamingo Rd., Pembroke Pines 954-357-5170
  • Central Broward Regional Park, 3700 N.W. 11th Place, Lauderhill 954-357-5400
  • Plantation Heritage Park, 1100 S. Fig Tree Lane, Plantation 954-357-5135

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