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Nymphaea mexicana
The range of this plant appears to encompass most of Florida with actual occurrances having been found in streams with appropriate water chemistry (ap
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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, Aquatic. Quiet pools in spring-run streams, spring-fed lakes and ponds, still water.
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Everything from flies, to beetles, and various sorts of bees have been recorded on water lilies (In Defense of Plants blog). Given the
- Attractive and unique swollen trunk
- Often draped with Spanish moss
- Handsome
- Attractive dark green leaves
- Elegant appearance
- Distinctive-looking fruit with spiked exterior
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
Bursera simaruba
This tree has a thick trunk and both the trunk and branches can twist into interesting shapes. The bark is red to bronze and peels. It's also called t
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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, Kingbirds and other flycatchers eat the fruits (IRC, Haehle and Brookwell 1999).
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Habitat, Moist hammocks, dry hammocks, dry hardwood forests, coastal uplands, urban areas
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Did You Know?, Interesting bark, Hurricane wind resistance
Larval host for dingy purplewing (Eunica monima) (IRC).
Attracts bees and other insect pollinators
- Pyramidal crown
- Dense, full crown
- Prominent blue-gray crownshaft
- Does best with periodic fertalization
- Requires high humidity
- Prolific fruiter
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
Coreopsis lanceolata
In central Florida, lanceleaf has a relatively short blooming period compared to Leavenworth's tickseed - wrapping things up by mid-summer, whereas C.
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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, Will self-seed and so could become weedy.
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Habitat, Sandhills, edges of cypress swamps and marshes, ruderal areas.
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Attracts butterflies and pollinators.
- Unique foliage and silhouette
- Briefly bare for about a month in the winter
- Elegant, dense canopy
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
Alvaradoa amorphoides
This is listed as an ENDANGERED by the State of Florida
An excellent accent shrub or small tree with open, spreading crown. Attractive fine textured,
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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, This is a beautiful small tree that is rarely cultivated..
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Habitat, Rockland hammock edges
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Showy fruits
Larval host for dina yellow (Eurema dina) and cassius blue (Leptotes cassius theonus) butterflies.
- Attractive glossy leaves
- Raised diamond-shaped trunk pattern
- Silvery blue-green fronds
- Elegant 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
