According to Kew Gardens, it is from Central America and probably Cuba and Florida.   After going through the photos and labels for specimens in the S , Tolerance, Unknown Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Considertions, Noted for being weedy. , Habitat, Disturbed. Old orange groves, pasture, roadsides. May occur naturally along the west FL coast including shell mounds and dunes . All records for in , Did You Know?, Showy flowers

Specimen plant, edge, understory shrub. Can be grown in a large container. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, Old leaf bases form long stiff spines. , Wildlife, Provides good wildlife cover. , Habitat, Moist-wet sites. Seep slope forests, regularly but shallowly inundated floodplains, seepage swamps especially associated with springs, hydric seepage , Did You Know?, Interesting foliage, Thorns Attracts beetles.

Very robust.  Forms large patches.  Given its potential to be very tall, it may needs to have support from adjacent plants.   Data on salt tolerance c , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Wildlife, Seeds eaten by small birds such as finches. , Habitat, Forests , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Attracts bumble bees, butterflies Larval host for the silvery checkerspot, found only in extreme north Florida.

Highly adaptable. While frequently in moist areas, broadly tolerant of dryness. Has been planted extensively for timber. This tree occurs throughout F , Tolerance, Tolerant of inundation with brackish water Moderate. Tolerant of salty wind and may get some salt spray. Exposure to salt spray would be uncommon ( , Wildlife, Squirrels and other animals eat the seeds.  In southern Florida, old trees are known to support red-cockaded woodpeckers. , Habitat, Moist sites. Low flatwoods, swamp edges, pine rockland, cutthroat seeps. Often cultivated in dry sites. , Did You Know?, Interesting foliage, Hurricane wind resistance

Bog gardens. , 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 , Habitat, Wet flatwoods, marshes, savannahs. Occasionally found in scrub. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Reported to attract mites and small insects such as small flies.