Known for very dense wood, hence the common name.  Said to have the heaviest wood on any American tree. Specimen plant or small shade tree. , 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 , Wildlife, Fruit eaten by birds and other wildlife. , Habitat, Dry sites. Hammocks. , Did You Know?, Interesting foliage, Hurricane wind resistance

Relatively small for an oak. Use as specimen tree or in a grove. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Wildlife, Birds, squirrels, racoons, deer and other wildlife eat the seeds. , Habitat, Well drained bottomlands and bluffs. , Did You Know?, Larval host for brown duskywing butterfly (Erynnis horatius), and gray hairstreak (Strymon melinus), and white-M hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album).

Based on BONAP maps, the ISB maps and specimens, and one author's personal observations, the range of this species appears to be those parts of the co , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Habitat, Upland mixed forests, sandhill, cypress swamps, moist pinelands, white cedar swamps, sandhills near sinkhole ponds, often climbing on pond cypress or , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage Said to attract early spring pollinators (Using Georgia Native Plants Blog).

This plant is easy to grow. Weak wood. Hedge plant, specimen plant, woodland plant. Plant where the silky brown/gold undersides of the foliage will b , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Considertions, Plant where it will have space. While many specimens in natural scrub settings are slow growing, this plant can be a robust growing in the landscape. , Wildlife, Birds and other animals eat the fruit. , Habitat, Sandhill, scrub. , Did You Know?, Interesting foliage, Thorns Nectar plant for butterflies. Attracts bees and flies.  A pollinator magnate. Watching insects swarm over my tough bully

This species can be distinguished from related non-natives by its trailing stems and lance-shaped leaves. Stachytarpheta urticifolia, commonly sold by , 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 , Wildlife, Attracts  hummingbirds. , Habitat, Coastal strand, open areas in dry mesic hardwood forests, sometimes nestled under trees along sandy roadsides. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Larval host for tropical buckeye (Junonia genoveva) butterfly.  Nectar plant for many butterflies and moths including: Bahamian swallow

Further north, this can be a moderately large tree. Not typically grown but worth retaining if present as an understory tree. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, Has a shallow root system that may prevent plants from growing under it. , Wildlife, Fruits are eaten by a number of birds and small mammals. , Did You Know?, Larval host for hackberry emperor (Asterocampa celtis), and mourning cloak (Nymphalis antiopa) butterflies. Sole larval host plant for American snout

Meadow or wildflower garden. , 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 , Considertions, Can become weedy. , Wildlife, Attracts pollinators. , Habitat, Pine flatwoods and disturbed areas , Did You Know?, Showy flowers

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 eat the seeds. , Habitat, Flatwoods. Moist to dry roadsides. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Attracts a variety of pollinators including bees.   Attracts butterflies.