Filters
Sort
Sort
Sort By :
By :
Grid View
List View
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
,
Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
,
Habitat, Scrub, scrubby flatwoods, overgrown sandhill.
,
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
Myrcianthes fragrans
Specimen plant. Roadsides, parking lot edges, and medians. Smaller forms can make good foundation screens.
,
Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray.
,
Considertions, Both suckers and seedlings will appear.
,
Wildlife, Birds eat the fruits.
,
Habitat, Tropical rockland hammock, coastal hammock.
,
Did You Know?, Aroma, fragrance, Interesting bark, Showy flowers, Showy fruits, Hurricane wind resistance
Attracts bees and butterflies.
- Attractive contrast between flowers and foliage
- Damaged by citrus canker
- Colorful fall foliage
- Healthy edible fruit
Viburnum rufidulum
Specimen plant, screen plant, understory tree/shrub.
,
Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
,
Wildlife, Attracts pollinators. Birds and other wildlife consume fruit.
,
Habitat, Upland hardwood forests, bluffs, secondary woods.
,
Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Showy fruits
Larval host for the spring azure butterfly (Celastrina ladon).
Both native and non-native viburnums (Viburnum spp.) attra
- Flowers year round
- Imposing stature
- Silvery blue-green fronds
- Highly wind tolerant
- Lovely deep green, glossy leaves
- Unique, stout pineapple-like trunk when young
Magnolia grandiflora
Note: There are cultivars, such as "Little Gem" sold in nurseries that originate from non-Florida stock (Little Gem is a North Carolina tree). Suitabi
,
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
,
Wildlife, Fruits are eaten (and spread) by squirrels, opossums, and birds including quail, and turkey.
,
Habitat, Slope forest, dry-mesic to mesic upland hardwood forest.
,
Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Showy fruits, Interesting foliage, Hurricane wind resistance
Beetles are the primary pollinators. The flowers have a hardened carpel t
- Easily trimmed for smaller spaces
- Attractive light to medium green crownshaft
- Grows tall, but not massive
Ficus aurea
This is a large tree best used in settings where its form can be appreciated. It is both a specimen tree and and shade tree.
,
Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray.
,
Considertions, In some settings, the tree begins as an epiphyte and sends roots down to the ground wrapping around the host. This is interesting in natural settings
,
Wildlife, Birds and small mammals consume fruit and often deposit seeds high in the canopy.
,
Habitat, Moist-wet sites to dry sites and on shallow soils over limestone. Tropical hammocks, swamps. May be epiphytic or have aerial roots that may wrap arou
,
Did You Know?, Interesting bark, Showy fruits, Interesting foliage
Larval host for ruddy daggerwing (Marpesia petreus) and Antillean daggerwing (Marpesia eleuchea)
- Rapid growth
- Slow Growth
- Wonderfully fragrant
- Lovely dark green, shiny leaves
- Unique flowers, with petals like banana peels
- Can be grown indoors
Silphium asteriscus
The bloom period is relatively long - lasting from early spring, well into fall.
Wildflower garden.
,
Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
,
Wildlife, Seeds eaten by birds.
,
Habitat, Moist roadsides, flatwoods, sandhill, scrub.
,
Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Attracts butterflies
Attracts bees
- Fragrant clusters of flowers in fall
- Striking and exotic
- Requires occassional fertalization
- Does poorly in very wet soil
- Year-round blooms
- Lush, dense shade tree
Dalea pinnata
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.
- Majestic, sprawling canopy
- Prominant gray-olive crownshaft
- Tiered branches
Rhododendron viscosum
The most aromatic of the azaleas. That last of the azaleas to bloom--in Florida May to June. Flowers are sticky--hence the name R. viscosum.
Specimen
,
Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
,
Wildlife, Attracts hummingbirds.
,
Habitat, Moist-wet sites. Seep swamps, pineland-wetland ecotones, edges of bay swamps, moist woods.
,
Did You Know?, Aroma, fragrance, Showy flowers
Attracts pollinators especially bumble bees.
Attracts butterflies.
- Excellent small hedge
- Elegant
- Sprawling and informal shrub
- Unusual deep green leaves with bronze underside
Vachellia farnesiana
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.
- Briefly bare for about a month in the winter
- Very rare
- Prominant olive crownshaft
- Grows tall, but not massive
- Prominent pale green crownshaft
- Intoxicating fragrance
Pluchea odorata
Based on maps from BONAP and ISB, this species ranges across the southern and central US and up the eastern seabord to Massachusetts. The entire Flor
,
Tolerance, Tolerant of inundation with brackish water
Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray.
,
Habitat, Marsh and swamp edges
,
Did You Know?, Aroma, fragrance, Showy flowers
Nectar attracts bees and many different kinds of butterflies. Documented bee visitors include Halictzcs ligatus, Dial
- Stunning
- Excellent small hedge
- Easy/Carefree
Panicum virgatum
In the opinion of this author, this species has a weedy look.
Occurs throughout Florida but is more frequent in flatwoods pond settings and small flo
,
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, An aggressive grower. Plant where that characteristic is appropriate.
,
Habitat, Riverine forests, flatwoods, beaches, fresh and brackish marshes, disturbed sites.
,
Did You Know?, Larval host for tawny edged skipper.
- Majestic and graceful
- Slender trunk, 4" in diameter
- Highly nutritious fruit
Ptelea trifoliata
Understory tree, use as a background plant or screen.
,
Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
,
Habitat, Floodplains, rich woodlands, upland mixed forest.
,
Did You Know?, Fall color, Showy fruits
Larval host for the giant swallowtail.
Carrion flies pollinate the flowers.
- Very showy bright yellow flowers
- Slender trunk, 4" in diameter
- Relatively uncommon in South Florida
- Native
