Florida · Shrub

Red buckeye for birds in Florida

Blooms right as Ruby-throated Hummingbirds return. Native to Florida, where it feeds or shelters 4 backyard bird species.

Scientific name: Aesculus pavia
Native status: Native in Florida
Hardiness zones: USDA 8a–11b
What birds get from it: nectar
Florida birds supported: 4
Nesting birds among them: 3

Growing conditions in Florida

Humid subtropical in the north to tropical in the Keys; a wet summer and a dry winter season.

Heat, humidity and summer storms: boxes need drainage holes, ventilation and shade, and nectar spoils fast.

Florida birds that use Red buckeye

Winter is the busy feeder season as northern migrants — goldfinches, wrens and others — arrive from October.

Nesting season it supports in Florida

Plants that feed adults and host caterpillars matter most while nestlings are in the nest. Local nesting windows for birds that use Red buckeye:

Ruby-throated Hummingbird — March–July
Orchard Oriole — April–June
White-winged Dove — March–August

Native plants to pair with Red buckeye in Florida

Coral honeysuckle

Lonicera sempervirens · Vine

Blooms spring through summer.

Trumpet creeper

Campsis radicans · Vine

Large orange trumpets through midsummer.

Cardinal flower

Lobelia cardinalis · Perennial

Scarlet late-summer spikes; a hummingbird magnet in moist soil.

Coral bean

Erythrina herbacea · Shrub

Red tubular spring flowers for early hummingbirds.

Wax myrtle

Morella cerifera · Shrub

Waxy winter berries and dense evergreen cover.

American beautyberry

Callicarpa americana · Shrub

Late-summer purple fruit clusters.

Frequently asked

Is Red buckeye native to Florida?

Yes. Red buckeye (Aesculus pavia) is recorded as native in Florida. Florida spans USDA 8a–11b.

What birds does Red buckeye attract in Florida?

In Florida, Red buckeye supports 4 backyard birds, including Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Orchard Oriole, Rufous Hummingbird, White-winged Dove.

Does Red buckeye help nesting birds in Florida?

3 of those birds nest in Florida: Ruby-throated Hummingbird (March–July), Orchard Oriole (April–June), White-winged Dove (March–August).

Which winter birds use Red buckeye in Florida?

Winter visitors Rufous Hummingbird use it in Florida during the cold months.

Sources

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.