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Tripsacum dactyloides
In a managed garden, gamagrass can be trimmed back at the end of winter.
Hedge, foundation planting, individual large grass clump, background screen
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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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Considertions, Can die back and become messy during cold winters, but new growth covers it in the spring.
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Wildlife, Even when trimmed occasionally, Gama Grass will provide cover for small mammals, birds, and reptiles. Deer eat the seeds.
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Habitat, Wet bogs, roadsides, ditches, wet hammocks, river banks, low thickets, pine woods, open swamps, open habitats, flatwoods, sandhill, scrub. Also culti
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Showy fruits
Larval host for three-spotted skipper (Cymaenes tripunctus), clouded skipper (Lerema accius) and Byssusskipper (Problema
- Requires protection from strong winds
- Unique and prized
- Attractive flowers, typically deep orange
- Handsome
- Highly nutritious fruit
- Wonderfully fragrant at night
Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis
Used extensively in Indian cultures. Fruits are very high in Vitamin C.
Casual settings, wetland edge or screen plant. Rain gardens and bioswales. Lo
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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, Many would consider this plant weedy: it does self seed and spread via rhizomes. It's wood is weak; stems break easily. Use where these characteristic
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Wildlife, Fruits popular with birds.
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Habitat, Disturbed wetland edges, wet roadsides, etc.
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Showy fruits, Interesting foliage
Flowers attract many pollinators.
- Damaged by citrus canker
- Recently classified invasive
- Very showy bright yellow flowers
- Relatively compact and narrow canopy
- Requires ample space and light
Nymphoides aquatica
This species is listed as invasive in parts of the world where it is not native.
Water garden, planting of surface water management pond. Often used
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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, Water. Ponds, lakes, quiet streams, swampa, ditches, canals. This species can be seen in the Lower Hillsborough Flood Detention Area in Hillsborough
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Pollinated by bees and flies.
- Easy/Carefree native
- Handsome
- Pyramidal crown
- Does best in cooler areas of South Florida
- Easily trimmed to maintain desired size
- Does poorly in very wet soil
Lyonia ferruginea
New leaves are rusty-orange. Easy to care for.
Can grow as a small tree or a shrub.
Use where this small tree's interesting shape will be an asset. D
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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, Scrub, scrubby flatwoods, overgrown sandhill.
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Did You Know?, Interesting bark, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage
Attracts bees. The following Hymenoptera families and species were observed visiting flowers of
- Moderately slow growth
- Prolific fruiter
- Uncommon edible fruit
- Requires occassional fertalization
Pityopsis graminifolia
Minimize competition especially if it is over-topping the Pityopsis.
Wildflower garden. Foliage can be attractive year-round as silvery-gray green. A
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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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Considertions, Cut back after flowering to keep it neat.
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Habitat, Sandhill, scrub, scrubby flatwoods, flatwoods, dry prairie, disturbed areas.
,
Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage
Attracts bees and butterflies. A pollinator study at the Archbold Biological Station documented over 30 species of
- Ringed trunk
- Pleasant rounded shape
- Long-lasting year-round blooms
- Readily pruned into attractive shapes
- Stunning colorful foliage
Stewartia malacodendron
The cream-colored petals are crimped at the margins with numerous dark-purple stamen filaments and bluish anthers. Silky hairs cover the lower leaf su
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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, Slope forest, upland hardwood forest, baygall. On acidic soils.
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers
- Rare and unique
- Beautiful pinwheel flowers, often multicolored
- Sprawling and informal shrub
- Attractive tiered canopy
Nymphaea jamesoniana
Likely more common than suggested by the known county occurrences as likely overlooked since its blooms are nocturnal.
It is not clear to this author
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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, Open only at night. Fragrant.
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Habitat, Aquatic. Marsh, lake. Roadside ditches.
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Did You Know?, Aroma, fragrance, Showy flowers
This particular water lily blooms only at night. Personal observation, and a published research study suggest that t
- Massive stature when mature
- Towering
- Prominent pale green crownshaft
Penstemon australis
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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Wildlife, Attracts hummingbirds.
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Habitat, Sandhill, secondary woods, flatwoods.
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Attracts bees.
- Ideal with Mediterranean architecture
- Delicious edible fruit
- Healthy edible fruit
- Magnificent when flowering
- Rapid growth
Viburnum dentatum
Specimen plant. Screen plant or understory shrub.
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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 wildlife consume fruit.
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Habitat, Mesic to dry-mesic woods. Areas of shallow to moderate inundation, along stream and river banks, swamps, swamp borders, fertile uplands, titi swamps,
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Larval host for the spring azure butterfly (Celastrina ladon).
Both native and non-native viburnums (Viburnum spp.) attract a wide rang
- Elegant
- Elegant and compact
- Moderately drought tolerant
- Dense, full crown
- Very full crown
Thelypteris kunthii
Groundcover recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restoration.
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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, Cover for many ground-dwelling species.
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Habitat, Hydric and mesic hammocks, shallow swamps and swamp edges, floodplains, limerock, concrete, ditches.
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Did You Know?, Interesting foliage
- Does best with periodic fertalization
- Extremely versatile
- Can be grown indoors
- Showy red berries
- Often draped with Spanish moss
Hypericum hypericoides
Mass plantings, small specimen shrubs
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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, Foliage and seeds are food sources for birds and mammals.
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Habitat, Hammock,mesic to dry mesic hardwood or mixed pine forest, flatwoods, floodplains, ruderal areas, sandhill, wet calcareous hammocks, secondary woods.
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Did You Know?, Interesting bark, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage
Attracts insect pollinators, especially bees.
- Stout, swollen trunk
- Beautiful exotic foliage
- Beautiful silhouette
- No longer recommended
Lyonia fruticosa
Retain if present. Can be used as part of a screen in a dry site setting.
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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, Slow growing.
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Habitat, Dry-moist sites. Cutthroat seeps, scrub, scrubby flatwoods, scrub.
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Attracts bees. The following Hymenoptera families and species were observed visiting flowers of Lyonia fruticosa at Archbold Biologica
- Briefly bare for about a month in the winter
- Lovely dark green, shiny leaves
- Heavy feeder
