Natural landscapes including meadows and butterfly gardens. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Considertions, Purple thistle is a thorny plant - be very careful when handling. , Wildlife, The seeds are rich in oil, an important food source for seed-eating birds. , Habitat, Coastal plain, edges of salt marshes, pinewoods, prairies and disturbed areas. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage, Thorns Larval host to little metalmark (Calephelis virginiensis) and painted lady (Vanessa cardui) butterflies. N

Leaves are whorled at intervals around the stem. Wildflower garden, butterfly garden or meadow. Stems spread but not aggressive. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Habitat, Sandhill. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Attracts insects, especially bees and butterflies. , Tolerance , Habitat , Did You Know?

Wildflower garden. Flowers in spring and summer. , Tolerance, Tolerant of inundation with brackish water Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Considertions, May appreciate periodic light pruning. , Habitat, Dry hammocks, dry hardwood forests , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Pollinated by moths, especially polka-dot wasp moth and the oleander moth. These moths also use it as a larval host.

Makes a good border plant that becomes a pink haze in the fall. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Wildlife, Birds and other wildlife consume seed. , Habitat, Flatwoods, sandhills, lake shores, disturbed sites. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Showy fruits Larval host for zabulon skipper (Poanes zabulon).

Forms thickets. Best used as a screen or buffer plant. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Wildlife, Birds and small mammals consume the fruit. , Habitat, Dry woods. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Larval host for cecropia silkmoth (Hyalophora cecropia) and spring azure butterfly (Celastrina ladon).  Attracts long-tongued bees, sho

Salt tolerance has not been studied but it has been recorded (in New England) in salt marshes, suggesting tolerance of at least brackish water and lik , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Considertions, It's a prolific reseeder. , Habitat, Upland mixed forests, flatwoods, sandhill, ruderal areas. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Flowers attract pollinators, likely bees, flies, and/or butterflies and moths.

Coastal stabilization is salt-flat areas. Can be used ornamentally as a groundcover or bush-like mound in coastal areas. , Tolerance, Tolerant of frequent or regular inundation (usually areas with tidal inundation) High. Can tolerate significant and ongoing amounts of salty wind and , Habitat, Saltmarshes and flats. , Did You Know?, Interesting foliage Larval host and adult nectar plant for the great Southern white (Ascia monuste) and Eastern pigmy blue (Brephidium isophthalma) b

This low growing plant is a good ground cover , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Habitat, Woodlands, flat pinewoods, sandhill, scrub, disturbed areas in the coastal plain , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Likely attracts bees.

Endemic to the sand ridges of  central and northern peninsular Florida. Forms a thicket with many sprouts from  underground stems. , 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 , Wildlife, Small mammals use the acorns.  Provides significant food and cover for wildlife. The acorns are utilized by squirrels. An important food source for th , Habitat, Scrub, scrubby flatwoods, scrubby sandhill. , Did You Know?, Hurricane wind resistance Larval host  for Horace's duskywing (Erynnis horatius), red-banded hairstreak (Calycopis cecrops) and white-M hairstreak (P

This is a Florida endemic associated with dunes and scrub, both ancient and modern. Small specimen or border plant. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Wildlife, Fruit is eaten by birds and other animals. , Habitat, Scrub, high pine with reduced fire frequencies, scrubby flatwoods. , Did You Know?, Interesting foliage Flowers attract pollinators. Documented bee visitors include Agapostelnon splendens, Azcgochlorella aurata, Augochloropsis anonym

Is listed as Endangered in Florida. Hedges; small specimen plants; mass planting; ground cover; large planters. Dune reclamation. , 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 , Considertions, A beautiful shrub for oceanfront gardens, but susceptible to diseases inland. , Habitat, Coastal uplands, dunes. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage, Hurricane wind resistance Nectar plant for Miami blue (Cyclargus thomasi bethunebakeri) and other butterfly speci

Groundcover in coastal sandy areas. Useful for dune stabilization. , 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 , Habitat, Coastal dunes. , Did You Know?, Interesting foliage