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Quercus muehlenbergii
The range of this species barely makes it into north Florida but extends north to southern Canada.
Shade 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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Considertions, Fallen/falling acorns can be a maintenance issue.
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Wildlife, Acorns appreciated by squirrels, deer, turkey and other wildlife
Used by birds for resting and nesting
Larval host for gray hairstreak butterfly
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Habitat, Mesic calcareous hammocks.
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Did You Know?, Larval host for the white-M hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album).
- Elegant
- Towering
- Extremely versatile
Aralia spinosa
FNPS Blog article
Specimen plant or background 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, When its huge triply compound leaves are shed in the fall, only the main thorny stem is left standing through the winter months--hence the name devil'
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Wildlife, Birds and small mammals consume the fruit. Birds include nuthatches, orioles, chickadees, titmice, and warblers.
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Habitat, The edges of dry hammocks and dry hardwood forests.
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Showy fruits, Thorns
Attracts butterflies and bees. Documented bee species include Colletes mandibularis, Hylaeus confluens, Augochlo
- Slow Growth
- Wonderfully fragrant at night
- Easily trimmed to maintain desired size
- Symmetrical shape
- Narrow enough for tight spaces
- Fragrant clusters of flowers in fall
Muhlenbergia capillaris
There are three subspecies included in this description. Together, they are found in all coastal counties of Florida and many inland ones. As a gras
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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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Wildlife, Muhly grass forms a low canopy that small animals can use for shelter and refuge.
Small birds eat the seeds.
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Habitat, Flatwoods, marshes, scrub.
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Showy fruits, Interesting foliage
- Unique foliage and silhouette
- Clusters of tubular flowers
- Fruit attracts wildlife
- Can be kept narrow
Pinckneya bracteata
The showy part of the flower is the white, pink or rose bracts that become petal-like.
This species is listed as Threatened by the State of Florida. 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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Habitat, Edges of bayheads, swamps; bogs; steepheads; wet flatwoods.
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage
Attracts bees and butterflies.
- Delicious edible fruit
- Prominant olive crownshaft
- Intoxicating fragrance
- Very showy clusters of red flowers
- Healthy edible fruit
- Narrow canopy
Thelypteris spp.
These are generally moist site ferns though some (T. kunthii, T. ovata) grow in mesic uplands. Most are similar in appearance, and all will grow in a
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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, The native range varies by species. Please use species appropriate to your area.
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Wildlife, Cover for many ground-dwelling species.
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Habitat, Hydric and mesic hammocks, shallow swamps and swamp edges, floodplains.
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Did You Know?, Interesting foliage
- Tiered branches
- Very showy bright yellow flowers
- Will not tolerate frost
- Somewhat salt tolerant
- Formal, old-world appearance
- Elegant and stately
Sideroxylon foetidissimum
Interesting buttressed trunks.
Shade tree. Can be used in settings such as parking lot edges, street tree, etc.
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Tolerance, Tolerant of inundation with brackish water
Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray.
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Wildlife, Povides good cover.
Birds and small mammals are attracted to the fruit.
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Habitat, Tropical hammocks.
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Did You Know?, Interesting foliage, Hurricane wind resistance
Attracts insect pollinators
- Bright red fruits
- Requires protection from strong winds
- Colorful new leafs
- Raised diamond-shaped trunk pattern
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
Piloblephis rigida
This is nearly endemic to Florida (there are a few documented occurrences in southeastern Georgia).
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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Considertions, Short-lived: it tends to die back after a few years.
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Habitat, Scrubby flatwoods, scrub, dry flatwoods, dry prairie, sandhill, ruderal.
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Did You Know?, Aroma, fragrance, Showy flowers
Attracts butterflies and bees (Florida Wildflower Foundation Blog). Documented bee visitors include Agapostemoiz spl
- Attracts butterflies
- Long emerald crownshaft
- Ringed trunk
- Unique foliage and silhouette
Chionanthus pygmaeus
Emerald ash borer is a problem in the northeast and if it reaches Florida, it would likely be lethal to this species.
This tree is listed as as Endang
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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, Fruits used by birds.
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Habitat, Scrub and scrubby flatwoods.
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Probably bee pollinated.
- Very showy bright yellow flowers
- Easy/Carefree
- Ringed trunk
- Unusually shaped, asymmetrical tree
- Fragrant in the evening
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
Gentiana saponaria
The range of this plant barely makes it into Florida and only 2 locations have been documented. It is not rare in states to the north.
Garden flower
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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, Moist woods, stream banks, moist roadsides.
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Bumblebees are an important pollinator for this species. Small beetles feed on the pollen.
- Prominant olive crownshaft, slightly buldging
- Unique foliage and silhouette
- Iconic symbol of the south
- Highly nutritious fruit
Magnolia grandiflora
Note: There are cultivars, such as "Little Gem" sold in nurseries that originate from non-Florida stock (Little Gem is a North Carolina tree). Suitabi
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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, Fruits are eaten (and spread) by squirrels, opossums, and birds including quail, and turkey.
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Habitat, Slope forest, dry-mesic to mesic upland hardwood forest.
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Showy fruits, Interesting foliage, Hurricane wind resistance
Beetles are the primary pollinators. The flowers have a hardened carpel t
- Easily trimmed for smaller spaces
- Attractive light to medium green crownshaft
- Grows tall, but not massive
