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Phyla nodiflora
Low growing groundcover. Can be used as a turf substitute in low traffic areas.
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Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray.
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Habitat, Dry-moist-wet sites. Disturbed wet prairies, ruderal areas.
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage
Larval host for common buckeye (Junonia coenia), phaon crescent (Phyciodes phaon) and white peacock (Anartia jatr
- Requires occassional fertalization
- Rare, despite being a South Florida native
- Iconic symbol of the south
- Narrow crown
- Relatively compact and narrow canopy
Orontium aquaticum
Curiosity in wetland gardens.
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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, Like many members of the Arum family, all parts of this plant are toxic.
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Habitat, Shallow water of pools, streams, and swamps.
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage
Pollinated by bees, flies, and beetles (Florida Wildflower Foundation)
- Pyramidal crown
- Excellent small hedge
- Killed by citrus greening (HLB)
Polygonum nesomii
Dry wildflower garden. Abundant flowers are produced near the ends of the stems.
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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, Scrub, scrubby ruderal areas, sandhill, river levees.
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Showy fruits
Attracts bees and butterflies (Hawthorn Hill). Documented bee visitors include Colletes mandibularis, C. thysanellae, C
- Excellent small to medium hedge
- Stunning
- Beloved in South Florida
- Prominent blue-gray crownshaft
- Beautiful silhouette
Cynophalla flexuosa
Night blooming, fragrant.
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Tolerance, Tolerant of occasional/brief inundation such as can occur in storm surges.
Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray.
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Wildlife, Fruits eaten by birds.
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Habitat, Dry sites. Coastal hammocks.
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Did You Know?, Aroma, fragrance, Showy flowers
Larval host for Florida White (Appias drusilla) and Great Southern White (Ascia monuste).
- Colorful fall foliage
- Elegant appearance
- Unique, sweet, almond-like flavor
- Unusual stilt roots
- Attractive silver-gray foliage
- Attractive dark green leaves
Quercus virginiana
This species is broadly planted. It is one of the few native trees that is widely available. Noted for its twisty form, tolerance of root damage, and
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Tolerance, Tolerant of occasional/brief inundation such as can occur in storm surges.
Moderate. Tolerant of salty wind and may get some salt spray. Exposure t
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Considertions, Massive low hanging branches often droop to touch the ground--make sure you allow plenty of room for this tree. Can be somewhat messy especially if lo
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Wildlife, Acorns provide a good food source for many types of birds and mammals.
Good nesting habitat for birds and squirrels. The acorns are low in tannins.
H
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Habitat, Tropical rockland hammock, pine rockland in fire-suppressed areas and near tropical rockland hammock, upper edges of floodplains, margins of ponds and
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Did You Know?, Interesting foliage, Hurricane wind resistance
Larval host plant for Horace's duskywing (Erynnis horatius), red-banded hairstreak (Calycopis cecrops)
- Briefly bare for about a month in the winter
- Excellent small hedge
- Unique, sweet almond flavor
Dalea carnea
Because it's a legume, it will grow well in poor soil.
There are multiple subspecies.
Wildflower garden. This is a low, wide-spreading plant that wil
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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 other small wildlife consume seeds (in pods).
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Habitat, Dry flatwoods.
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Larval host for southern dogface (Zerene cesonia).
Attracts pollinators, especially bees.
- Can be trimmed into manicured shapes
- Lovely deep green, glossy leaves
- Wide umbrella-shaped canopy
Zanthoxylum clava-herculis
Wood is quite soft and weak. This author had one break in a storm. It did however resprout from low on the trunk and the sprout is now about 15 ft t
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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, Quite thorny.
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Wildlife, Birds and other wildlife eat the fruit.
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Habitat, Hammocks, wet woods, dunes, shell middens.
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Did You Know?, Interesting bark, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage, Thorns
Larval host for giant swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes).
- Attracts butterflies and bees
- Showy display of fruit
- Beautiful sweeping fronds with drooping leaflets
- Killed by citrus greening (HLB)
Salvia lyrata
The basal leaves are usually tingled with purple and have deep lobes toward the base, which is reminiscent of the shape of a lyre.
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, If planning to intermix in garden or grass, be aware that this species seeds readily. It definitely does not belong in a manicured lawn.
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Habitat, Disturbed sites. Roadsides, dry-mesic to mesic areas.
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage
Attracts many pollinators including butterflies and bees.
- Width often exceeds height
- Will not tolerate frost
- Long emerald crownshaft
- Narrow enough for tight spaces
- Attractive and unique swollen trunk
Yucca filamentosa
Leaves have sharp spiny tips.
Specimen plant. Low hedge.
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Tolerance, Tolerant of occasional/brief inundation such as can occur in storm surges.
Moderate. Tolerant of salty wind and may get some salt spray. Exposure t
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Considertions, The leaves have hard, sharp points.
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Wildlife, Provides wildlife cover
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Habitat, Dry sites. Scrub, scrubby flatwoods.
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage
Larval host plant for cofaqui giant skipper (Megathymus cofaqui) and yucca giant skipper (Megathymus yuccae) butte
- Tropical silhouette
- Formal, old-world appearance
- Narrow enough for tight spaces
- Swollen, succulent branches
- Native
Cornus alternifolia
Small specimen tree. Can also work as an understory tree.
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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.
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Habitat, Slope forest, upland hardwood forest. Bluffs, creek forests.
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Did You Know?, Fall color, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage
Larval host for cecropia silkmoth (Hyalophora cecropia) and spring azure butterfly (Celastrina ladon).
- Smaller stature
- Imposing stature
- Does best with periodic fertalization
- Easily trimmed to maintain desired size
- Susceptible to breakage, even in moderate winds
- Not a true pine
Castanea pumila
While it is related to chestnuts, its not generally subject to chestnut blight, and if it gets it, will likely recover.
Natural settings as a small s
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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, Burr-covered nuts can cause a problem in residential landscapes.
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Wildlife, Nuts are consumed by birds and other wildlife.
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Habitat, Dry, open sandy woods, hammock edges, sandy roadsides, fence rows in sandy fields, dry bluffs, pine-oak-hickory woods, floodplains, calcareous river h
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Did You Know?, Aroma, fragrance, Fall color, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage
Larval host for orange-tipped oakworm moth (Anisota senatoria) which can cause signi
- Unusual deep green leaves with bronze underside
- Can be kept narrow
- Healthy edible fruit
- Uncommon
- Available single or multi-stalked
Chamaecyparis thyoides
The natural distribution in Florida is predominantly related to soil and drainage conditions. If you provide them, it should grow successfully from L
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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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Wildlife, Provides cover for birds and mammals.
Attracts deer and squirrels. Deer browse can be so intense as to limit survival of saplings.
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Habitat, Forested seepage areas, swamps, low stream banks
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Did You Know?, Interesting foliage
- Width often exceeds height
- Cold tolerant
- Very rare
- Ideal with Mediterranean architecture
- Elegant
- Year-round blooms
