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Physocarpus opulifolius
This plant is rare in Florida. It is much more common further north where it is absolutely spectacular in early spring.
Specimen plant. It can be pru
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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, Seep stream (banks). Further north, it also occurs along lake edges.
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Did You Know?, Interesting bark, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage
Mining bees are known to be frequent pollinators of ninebark flowers. Both short and long-tongu
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Tolerance
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Habitat
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Did You Know?
- Completely bare in winter
- Edible, healthy fruit
- Unusually shaped, asymmetrical tree
- Requires ample space and light
- Striking silhouette
- Unique flowers, with petals like banana peels
Brickellia cordifolia
This is a rare plant. Please acquire responsibly (don't steal from the wild).
Not common in the nursery trade (we are aware of one North Florida nurs
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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, Open woodlands
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Especially attractive to butterflies.
- Attractive symmetrical appearance
- Beautiful rounded canopy
- Very rare
- Slender and elegant
- Easy/Carefree
- Prominent pale green crownshaft
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)
Phlebodium aureum
This is a native that makes Florida look tropical.
Herbarium specimens from Leon County say that the fern was likely brought in. Otherwise, the north
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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, Hammocks. Epiphytic on cabbage palm. Occasionally in humus at ground level.
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Did You Know?, Interesting foliage
- Highly nutritious fruit
- Wonderfully fragrant flowers
- Wonderfully fragrant
- Colorful older leaves
- Attractive mottled bark
- Beautiful rounded canopy
Hibiscus laevis
This is a wetland plant. It is rarely grown, but it has potential in appropriate sites.
Background screen in wet 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 pollinators. Bees are especially important for fertilization.
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Habitat, Wet sites. Floodplains, riverbanks.
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Larval host of Gray Hairstreak, Painted Lady Butterfly, Common Checkered Skipper and Tropical Checkered Skipper butterflies and four
- Colorful fall foliage
- Lovely dark green, shiny leaves
- Falls over easily, may require staking
- Retains leaves until just before blooming
- Pineapple-like showy fruits (female plants)
- Beautiful pinwheel flowers, often multicolored
Gleditsia triacanthos
Very thorny. In the northern parts of its range, a thornless cultivar is planted.
Specimen tree. To avoid insect issues, best not to plant in large n
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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, Very sharp thorns. Tree is short-lived in the southern parts of its range (includes Florida).
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Wildlife, The seed pods have edible sweet pulp and are eaten by deer, opossums, squirrels, crows, starlings, and quail.
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Habitat, Upper portions of riverine floodplains, fertile uplands, stream banks. Planted in upland areas.
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Did You Know?, Thorns
Larval host for Epargyreus clarus (Silver-Spotted Skipper) and several moths including Catocala innubens (The Betrothed), Catocala minuta (Lit
- Tall and stately
- Flowers year round
- Wonderfully fragrant
- Pleasant rounded shape
- Prolific fruiter
- Excellent small to medium hedge
Quercus laurifolia
Depending on who you ask, there are two laurel oaks in Florida. Q. laurifolia (swamp laurel oak) and Q. hemisphaerica (Darlington oak, sand laurel oa
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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, Somewhat weak, and compared to live oak, short-lived.
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Wildlife, Produces acorns that are used by rodents, including squirrels, and other mammals
Acorns used by woodpeckers, jays, and wild turkeys.
High in tannins.
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Habitat, River floodplains, secondary woods.
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Did You Know?, Larval host for Horace’s Duskywing (Erynnis horatius) and White M Hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album).
Larval host for several moth species (some of the c
- Massive stature
- Unique foliage
- Attractive contrast between flowers and foliage
- Unusual deep green leaves with bronze underside
Habenaria quinqueseta
Keep it if you have it.
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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, Wet hammocks, meadows, fence rows, roadsides, open and dense woods, wet flatwoods, floodplain forests.
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Pollinated by moths.
- Narrow enough for tight spaces
- Retains leaves until just before blooming
- Elegant
- Unusual deep green leaves with bronze underside
Hydrocotyle umbellata
Groundcover in moist areas. Can be mowed.
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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, Often considered a pest in over-watered lawns. If the lawn is replaced by the "pest" the effect can be attractive.
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Habitat, Cutthroat seep, wet prairie, dome swamp. Somestimes in floating mats.
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Did You Know?, Interesting foliage
Attracts bees. A study at the Archbold Biological Station identified the following families of bees using this species:
Halictid
- Ideal for smaller spaces
- Not recommended
- Formal appearance
Crataegus michauxii
Not much information is available on growing this species. Likely to be somewhat difficult to establish but very durable once established.
Specimen p
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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 pollinators, especially important for native bees. Birds and other wildlife consume the fruit. Larval food for hummingbird clearwing moth(Hem
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Habitat, Dry, sandy, well-drained sites including scrub and sandhill.
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Showy fruits
- Not recommended
- Readily pruned into attractive shapes
- Showy creamy white flowers
- Killed by citrus greening (HLB)
- Majestic, sprawling canopy
Ipomoea alba
Blooms open late in the day and remain open through the night. Fragrant.
Can be agrown as an anuual north of its native range. Considered to be invas
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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, Extremely vigorous, may overtop other plants. Can be planted further north but should be treated as an annual.
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Habitat, Disturbed wetland and lake edges, mangrove fringes.
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Did You Know?, Aroma, fragrance, Showy flowers
Pollinated by moths.
- Forms an open canopy
- Often hosts orchids, ferns and bromiliads
- Unique, sweet, almond-like flavor
- Fast growth
- Highly wind tolerant
- Requires protection from strong winds
Rhapidophyllum hystrix
Specimen plant, edge, understory shrub. Can be grown in a large container.
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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, Old leaf bases form long stiff spines.
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Wildlife, Provides good wildlife cover.
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Habitat, Moist-wet sites. Seep slope forests, regularly but shallowly inundated floodplains, seepage swamps especially associated with springs, hydric seepage
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Did You Know?, Interesting foliage, Thorns
Attracts beetles.
- Colorful new leafs
- Prominant olive crownshaft, slightly buldging
- Relatively compact and narrow canopy
- Fast growth
- Swollen, succulent branches
- Very slow growth
