Cutting Horse Eco-Center
26268 Cutting Horse lane 
Bonita Springs, Fl 34135

After 5 wonderful years Cutting Horse Eco-Center closed to the public on May 21, 2022.

Thank you to all that volunteered over the years with this project and all who came and supported us through their purchase.

For volunteer opportunities at our newest project Estero River Oaks Preserve


​The Cutting Horse Eco-Center was a partnership between the City of Bonita Springs and The Coccoloba Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society. Coccoloba Chapter volunteers have been working on this property since 2017. Donors include:  Florida Power and Light (FPL), Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program (CHNEP), Florida Wildflower Foundation (FWF), Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) Native Landscapes and Garden Center, The Columbus Foundation/Lois and Bill Kelley, Periwinkle Garden Club, and many others.  This 2.5 acre site provides plants for native plant sales and provides various outreach events such as classes, workshops and garden tours. It also is used for hands-on propagation workshops and training. Most importantly, it shows a diversity of native plants growing in the ground and provides inspiration for landscaping layouts. A wide variety of native plants are also available for sale at this site in order to get more native plants in the ground.

We have 3 large planting sites. The lower gardens or the Demonstration Garden is the original planting area started just before Hurricane Irma's visit. This are was under a foot or two of water before, during and after that hurricane. So, we started planting high and dry plants in the Dick Workman Memorial Garden along with shade-loving plants at the bottom of the mound. Finally, in summer 2020, Florida Wildflower Foundation provided Viva Florida funding for the Wildflower Garden just outside the gates and along the street.


Tony Mauriello is a Florida Master Naturalist and Coccoloba Chapter board member.  He propagates plants at Cutting Horse Eco-Center.  In the videos to the right he will share some of the knowledge he has around vegetative plant propagation techniques.



​Would you like to learn more about native plants? Are you a hands-on person? ​

​At this time, you can be involved with:

  • Planting. Who doesn't like to plant plants? 
  • Plant propagation.
  • Pulling weeds.
  • Developing and executing projects around the site.

Would you like to learn more? 

Plant list Updated 
​November 2020 
Currently we have over 250 Native plants on the property
The Florida Native Plant Society promotes the preservation, conservation and restoration of native plants and native plant communities of Florida.
A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.

Copyright 2015, 2016. 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 The Coccoloba Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society