Three species occur in Florida. Please plant your local variety. Wildflower garden where it is very showy in late summer/early fall. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Wildlife, Some birds and small mammals consume consume the seeds (https://flawildflowers.org/). , Habitat, Dry flatwoods, sandhill, scrub. This species can be seen at the Starkey Wilderness Preserve in Pasco County. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage Larval host for southern dogface (Zerene cesonia). Attracts insects, especially bees.

Although drought-tolerant, this shrub/small tree may benefit from a few deep, thorough soakings during extremely dry periods. When young, it tends to , Tolerance, Tolerant of occasional/brief inundation such as can occur in storm surges. High. Can tolerate significant and ongoing amounts of salty wind and salt , Considertions, Thorns on trunks and branches. Place where flowers and fragrance can be enjoyed, but away from walkways. Can suffer from root rot if too wet. , Wildlife, The thorny branches make good cover for birds and other wildlife. Fruits are not generally valued. Attracts pollinators. There are 2 subspecies, V. fa , Habitat, Coastal uplands, ruderal, shell middens , Did You Know?, Aroma, fragrance, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage, Thorns Attracts pollinators and uses ants both for protection against unwanted insects.

While generally a swamp plant, this tree can grow in uplands.  Stems root readily and most of the stems stuck in a moist substrate will survive withou , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Considertions, Weak wood, easily broken. , Habitat, Swamps, marshes, floodplains, glades around gator holes. Open, wet, sunny areas. , Did You Know?, Interesting bark, Showy flowers, Showy fruits Larval host plant for Viceroy (Basilarchia archippus).  The species is wind pollinated, but bees harves

Works well in a wildflower garden or as a low border plant. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Wildlife, Foliage and seeds are food source for birds and mammals. , Habitat, Sandhill, pine flatwoods, dry edges of sandhill lakes.. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage Attracts pollinators, especially bees.  Documented bees include Colletes sp. A, Hylaeus conflzcens, Augochlorella

Fruits are showy from mid-distance until spring. Salt tolerance is unknown but given known locations for the plant, we assume it is likely to be low. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Habitat, Sandhill, open areas in xeric hammock, scrub, scrubby-sandhill, scrubby flatwoods. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Showy fruits Attracts butterflies and moths, bees, and other insects.  Documented bees include Colletes mandibularis, Agaposternon spl

This is a deciduous conifer. Specimen tree. Mass plantings in moist areas. Wetland restoration and enhancement. , Tolerance, Tolerant of inundation with brackish water Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Considertions, May produce knees (roots that poke up above ground level) even if grown in uplands. This species is less prone to knees than bald cypress(T. distchum) , Wildlife, Seeds are used by some mammals and seed-eating birds. , Habitat, Usually found in smaller wetlands that historically burned. Restricted to areas that dry out periodically (for reproduction) and naturally found in a , Did You Know?, Fall color, Interesting foliage, Hurricane wind resistance

Litsea aestivalis is listed as Endangered by the State of Florida.  Since that listing, the laurel wilt disease has come to Florida, and is known to k , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Wildlife, Fruits eaten by birds and mammals. , Habitat, Near the edges of forested wetlands and some seasonal ponds wtih open centers. , Did You Know?, Attracts flies and small bees.  A likely host for the spicebush swallowtail butterfly.

Shade tree. Branches may be quite twisty giving it an interesting form. Can also be used as a street tree and for ecosystem restoration. , 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, Acorn drop can be a maintenance issue. , Wildlife, Acorns appreciated by squirrels and other wildlife including some birds. , Habitat, Sandhill, pine-oak-hickory woods. , Did You Know?, Larval host for the white-M butterfly and Horace's duskywing.