Filters
Sort
Sort
Sort By :
By :
Grid View
List View
Betula nigra
Noted for its shaggy, peeling salmon-colored bark. The natural form is a single-trunked tree, but multi-trunked cultivars are common. Southernmost bir
,
Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
,
Considertions, Although native to floodplains, it is not tolerant of extended periods of flooding.
,
Wildlife, Birds and small mammals consume seed.
,
Habitat, River floodplains
,
Did You Know?, Interesting bark, Fall color
Larval host for Mourning Cloak and Dreamy Duskywing butterflies
- Beautiful rounded dense canopy
- Abundance of orange-red flowers in summer
- Lush, dense shade tree
- Attractive light to medium green crownshaft
- Beautiful purple-brown crownshaft
- Excellent small hedge
Rhabdadenia biflora
Grow on a trellis, but keep it fairly short to keep the flowers at a level where they will be enjoyed. Can be grown as a container plant.
,
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, Fringes of mangrove swamps.
,
Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage
May attract sphinx moths.
- Beautiful pinwheel flowers, often multicolored
- Elegant, dense canopy
- Does best in cooler areas of South Florida
Spartina bakeri
Large clump-forming grass with uses as tall groundcover, specimen plant, or border plant. Nice along edges of ponds and water features.
,
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
,
Habitat, Wet prairie, edges of marshes, but mostly inland--rarely coastal.
,
Did You Know?, Interesting foliage
- Magnificent
- Adequate moisture required
- Requires protection from strong winds
- Beloved in South Florida
Telmatoblechnum serrulatum
This is one of the most common ferns in central-southern Florida and potentially one of the most beautiful.
Ground cover for moist, shady sites. Also
,
Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
,
Considertions, Will spread unless contained by physical or environmental limits. Periodic removal of old fronds is recommended.
,
Habitat, Marshes, swamps
,
Did You Know?, Interesting foliage
- Unique swollen blue-green to silver trunk
- Requires high humidity
- Tropical silhouette
- Unique foliage
- Beautiful purple-brown crownshaft
- Moderately drought tolerant
Clethra alnifolia
The herbarium specimen from Polk County almost certainly has a wrong location. Lithia is in Hillsborough County and the most likely translation of a
,
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
,
Wildlife, Attracts hummingbirds.
Birds and other small wildlife consume the seed (https://wildflower.org)
,
Habitat, Moist-wet areas, acid soils. Wet flatwoods, savannas, swamps, stream banks, bogs, other wet areas.
,
Did You Know?, Aroma, fragrance, Showy flowers
Attracts butterflies and bees which have evolved to take advantage of narrow, tubular flowers.
- Lovely dark green, shiny leaves
- Attractive contrast between flowers and foliage
- Magnificent showy flowers in summer
Drosera tracyi
A similar species, Drosera filiformis is rare in the Florida panhandle and disjunct from northeastern US populations. In Florida, it is restricted to
,
Tolerance, Unknown
Unknown
,
Habitat, Savannas, bogs, moist disturbed ruderal areas (selected roadside swales), wet flatwoods
,
Did You Know?, Showy flowers
The plant both attracts insects for pollination and traps and digests insects. Though this species has not been well studied, other sp
- Ideal for smaller spaces
- Adequate moisture required
- Imposing stature
- Beautiful rounded dense canopy
Ipomoea cordatotriloba
Very easily grown. Flowers are fairly small but very numerous.
Plant on a trellis or fence.
,
Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
,
Considertions, Can be somewhat aggressive. Self seeds and can become overly abundant as well as overly robust. Best not planted in a small area.
,
Habitat, Ruderal. Fencerows.
,
Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Attracts butterflies and moths.
- Imposing stature
- Adequate moisture required
- Huge extremely fragrant flowers
Asclepias verticillata
Wildflower garden. This is a small but pretty little plant. Grow it in a moist wildflower garden.
,
Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
,
Considertions, It may be necessary to re-seed to keep this in the garden. Seed is not generally commercially available. This is the most toxic of the milkweeds and i
,
Habitat, Flatwoods
,
Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Larval host for the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus). Attracts various pollinators.
- Not a true pine
- Uncommon edible fruit
- Massive stature
- Unique purple-brown crownshaft
Nymphaea mexicana
The range of this plant appears to encompass most of Florida with actual occurrances having been found in streams with appropriate water chemistry (ap
,
Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
,
Habitat, Aquatic. Quiet pools in spring-run streams, spring-fed lakes and ponds, still water.
,
Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Everything from flies, to beetles, and various sorts of bees have been recorded on water lilies (In Defense of Plants blog). Given the
- Attractive and unique swollen trunk
- Often draped with Spanish moss
- Handsome
- Attractive dark green leaves
- Elegant appearance
- Distinctive-looking fruit with spiked exterior
Euonymus americanus
Shady settings. Interesting for its green twigs and red warty fruits. In good habitats it can form dense clones.
,
Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
,
Wildlife, Birds and other wildlife consume seed.
,
Habitat, Seep slopes, rich woods, hammocks, upland mixed forest, bluffs, floodplains.
,
Did You Know?, Interesting bark, Showy fruits
Insect pollinated, especially by bees.
- Relatively compact and narrow canopy
- Wonderfully fragrant at night
- Native
Cliftonia monophylla
Hedge in wet sites, pond borders. Good for a small thicket. Grow as a small tree or large shrub.
,
Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray.
,
Wildlife, Browsed by deer.
,
Habitat, Hydric flatwoods, seep swamps, sloughs, stream banks, bogs, wiregrass savannas.
,
Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Attracts bees (https://flawildflowers.org/).
- Showy display of fruit
- No longer recommended
- Pleasant rounded shape
- Cold tolerant
- Very full crown
- Attractive symmetrical appearance
Symphyotrichum carolinianum
Use as a sprawling vine in wet areas. Works well as a stand-alone border along the edges of retention ponds.
,
Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
,
Considertions, Its sprawling or climbing habit make it best for an informal or naturalized setting.
,
Habitat, Marshes, swamps, lake edges, river banks, coastal hammocks, floodplains.
,
Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage
Flowers draw a myriad of native bees, including polyester, sweat, cuckoo, leafcutter, mining, bumble and chimney b
- Not recommended
- Striking silhouette
- Prominent pale green or blue-gray crownshaft
- Cornerstone plant in South Florida
- Slender profile
- Adequate moisture required
