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Senna ligustrina
Because it's a legume it can grow in poor soils, but does better with added organic matter.
Specimen shrub.
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Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Moderate. Tolerant of salty wind and may get some salt spray. Exposure to salt spray wo
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Habitat, Hammock edges, disturbed areas.
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Larval host plant for cloudless sulphur (Phoebis sennae), sleepy orange (Eurema nicippi) and the introduced orange-barred sulphur (Phoe
- Requires ample space and light
- Adequate moisture required
- Moderately drought tolerant
- Majestic, sprawling canopy
Liatris savannensis
Endemic to western peninsular Florida from Tampa south to Charlotte County.
Wildflower garden.
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Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
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Considertions, Sometimes the flower stalks are too tall and heavy to stand. Can be cut back mid-summer to reduce height. In a large garden, the twisted fallen stalks
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Habitat, Flatwoods.
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Attracts butterflies and bees.
- Salt tolerant
- Very slow growth
- Does best in warmer areas of South Florida
- Sprawling and informal shrub
Cornus amomum
Has considerable winter interest as its bark is smooth and red.
Wet site hedge, wet site specimen plant especially if a clump is suitable.Rarely plan
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Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
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Wildlife, Birds and small mammals consume the fruit. Fruits used by birds and small mammals.
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Habitat, Riverine swamps, natural levees along streams, lake margins. Typically in areas with shallow annual inundation, typically during the winter/early spri
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Did You Know?, Interesting bark, Showy flowers
Larval host for cecropia silkmoth (Hyalophora cecropia) and spring azure butterfly (Celastrina ladon).
Attracts long
- Thick branching into attractive silouttes
- Wonderfully fragrant
- Attracts butterflies and bees
Lupinus diffusus
Given that this is short-lived (biennial) and difficult to transplant or grow from seed, this is perhaps best encouraged in places where it grows natu
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Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
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Considertions, Hard to establish. Biennial, though may reseed.
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Showy fruits, Interesting foliage
Larval host for frosted elfin (Callophyris irus) butterfly, which is listed as Endangered in Flori
- Very full crown
- Attractive symmetrical appearance
- Majestic and graceful
Penstemon australis
Wildflower garden.
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Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
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Wildlife, Attracts hummingbirds.
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Habitat, Sandhill, secondary woods, flatwoods.
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Attracts bees.
- Ideal with Mediterranean architecture
- Delicious edible fruit
- Healthy edible fruit
- Magnificent when flowering
- Rapid growth
Silphium asteriscus
The bloom period is relatively long - lasting from early spring, well into fall.
Wildflower garden.
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Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
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Wildlife, Seeds eaten by birds.
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Habitat, Moist roadsides, flatwoods, sandhill, scrub.
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Attracts butterflies
Attracts bees
- Fragrant clusters of flowers in fall
- Striking and exotic
- Requires occassional fertalization
- Does poorly in very wet soil
- Year-round blooms
- Lush, dense shade tree
Nyssa biflora
Its more upland relative, Nyssa sylvatica, grows well in sandy uplands and is highly similar in appearance. Somewhat slow growing.
Grows naturally in
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Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
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Wildlife, Fruite eaten by birds and small to medium sized animals.
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Habitat, Dome swamps, strand swamps. Tolerates extended periods of inundation.
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Did You Know?, Fall color, Hurricane wind resistance
Pollinated by bees.
- Dense attractive foliage
- Pleasant rounded shape
- Majestic and graceful
- Readily pruned into attractive shapes
- Somewhat drought tolerant
Dyschoriste humistrata
Wildflower garden, groundcover
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Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
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Habitat, Forested areas around wetlands
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Larval host for common buckeye (Junonia coenia).
- Dense canopy
- Falls over easily, may require staking
- Majestic
- Colorful new leafs
- Fruit eaten by birds
- Self-shedding fronds
Vachellia farnesiana
Although drought-tolerant, this shrub/small tree may benefit from a few deep, thorough soakings during extremely dry periods. When young, it tends to
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Tolerance, Tolerant of occasional/brief inundation such as can occur in storm surges.
High. Can tolerate significant and ongoing amounts of salty wind and salt
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Considertions, Thorns on trunks and branches. Place where flowers and fragrance can be enjoyed, but away from walkways. Can suffer from root rot if too wet.
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Wildlife, The thorny branches make good cover for birds and other wildlife. Fruits are not generally valued. Attracts pollinators.
There are 2 subspecies, V. fa
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Habitat, Coastal uplands, ruderal, shell middens
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Did You Know?, Aroma, fragrance, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage, Thorns
Attracts pollinators and uses ants both for protection against unwanted insects.
- Briefly bare for about a month in the winter
- Very rare
- Prominant olive crownshaft
- Grows tall, but not massive
- Prominent pale green crownshaft
- Intoxicating fragrance
Panicum virgatum
In the opinion of this author, this species has a weedy look.
Occurs throughout Florida but is more frequent in flatwoods pond settings and small flo
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Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Moderate. Tolerant of salty wind and may get some salt spray. Exposure to salt spray wo
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Considertions, An aggressive grower. Plant where that characteristic is appropriate.
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Habitat, Riverine forests, flatwoods, beaches, fresh and brackish marshes, disturbed sites.
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Did You Know?, Larval host for tawny edged skipper.
- Majestic and graceful
- Slender trunk, 4" in diameter
- Highly nutritious fruit
Swietenia mahagoni
Listed as Threatened by the Florida FDACS.
Host plant for mahogony mistletoe,Phoradendron rubrum, which is listed as Endangered by the Florida FDAS.
T
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Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
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Habitat, Tropical rockland hammock, coastal hammocks.
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Did You Know?, Aroma, fragrance, Showy fruits, Interesting foliage, Hurricane wind resistance
Attracts a diverse community of small butterflies and moths. Many spec
- Width often exceeds height
- Smaller stature
- Sprawling and informal shrub
Avicennia germinans
The common name black mangrove is a reference to the color of the trunk and heartwood. The plant excretes salt from its leaves, an adaptation to a sal
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Tolerance, Tolerant of frequent or regular inundation (usually areas with tidal inundation)
High. Can tolerate significant and ongoing amounts of salty wind and
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Wildlife, Provides good cover for birds and other wildlife.
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Habitat, Coastal mangrove wetlands, usually somewhat upland of the red mangrove(Rhizophora mangle) when found together.
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Did You Know?, Hurricane wind resistance
Larval host for mangrove buckeye (Junonia evarete) butterfly. Nectar plant for a variety of pollinators including the great
- Iconic symbol of the south
- Attractive mottled bark
- Unique, fern-like leaves
- Relatively compact and narrow canopy
