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Piloblephis rigida
This is nearly endemic to Florida (there are a few documented occurrences in southeastern Georgia).
Wildflower garden, groundcover.
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Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
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Considertions, Short-lived: it tends to die back after a few years.
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Habitat, Scrubby flatwoods, scrub, dry flatwoods, dry prairie, sandhill, ruderal.
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Did You Know?, Aroma, fragrance, Showy flowers
Attracts butterflies and bees (Florida Wildflower Foundation Blog). Documented bee visitors include Agapostemoiz spl
- Attracts butterflies
- Long emerald crownshaft
- Ringed trunk
- Unique foliage and silhouette
Sisyrinchium angustifolium
Groundcover. Foliage is low and neat even during periods when there are no flowers (flowers in mid-spring). Plant not visible in winter. Can be natura
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Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
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Habitat, Cutthroat seeps, moist roadsides, hammocks, bogs, river banks.
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Beneficial sweat bees, bumble bees, bee flies, and syrphid flies are attracted to nectar and pollen.
- Attractive and unique swollen trunk
- Requires high humidity
- Adequate fertalization required
- Unique fluffy fronds
- Dense, full crown
Eupatorium rotundifolium
Wildflower garden especially in sunny moist areas.
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Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
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Considertions, Said to spread easily from seed to the extent that it can become hard to control.
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Wildlife, Birds and other wildlife consume fruit.
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Habitat, Moist flatwoods.
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Attracts many pollinators, especially important for native bees.
- Unique fluffy fronds
- Attractive glossy leaves
- Tropical silhouette
- Excellent choice for narrow spaces
- Requires occassional fertalization
- Long emerald crownshaft
Myrcianthes fragrans
Specimen plant. Roadsides, parking lot edges, and medians. Smaller forms can make good foundation screens.
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Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray.
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Considertions, Both suckers and seedlings will appear.
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Wildlife, Birds eat the fruits.
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Habitat, Tropical rockland hammock, coastal hammock.
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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
Gentiana saponaria
The range of this plant barely makes it into Florida and only 2 locations have been documented. It is not rare in states to the north.
Garden flower
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Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
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Habitat, Moist woods, stream banks, moist roadsides.
,
Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Bumblebees are an important pollinator for this species. Small beetles feed on the pollen.
- Prominant olive crownshaft, slightly buldging
- Unique foliage and silhouette
- Iconic symbol of the south
- Highly nutritious fruit
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.
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Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray.
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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
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Wildlife, Birds and small mammals consume fruit and often deposit seeds high in the canopy.
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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
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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
Dalea pinnata
Three species occur in Florida. Please plant your local variety.
Wildflower garden where it is very showy in late summer/early fall.
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Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
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Wildlife, Some birds and small mammals consume consume the seeds (https://flawildflowers.org/).
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Habitat, Dry flatwoods, sandhill, scrub. This species can be seen at the Starkey Wilderness Preserve in Pasco County.
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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
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
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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
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Considertions, An aggressive grower. Plant where that characteristic is appropriate.
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Habitat, Riverine forests, flatwoods, beaches, fresh and brackish marshes, disturbed sites.
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Did You Know?, Larval host for tawny edged skipper.
- Majestic and graceful
- Slender trunk, 4" in diameter
- Highly nutritious fruit
Adiantum capillus-veneris
Widespread but sparse distribution in Florida largely based on where limestone is exposed at the surface. If you have limestone it is appropriate to
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Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
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Wildlife, Said to be resistant to deer.
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Habitat, Moist hammocks and can grow attached to rock outcroppings if moisture is consistently present in the area.
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Did You Know?, Interesting foliage
- Showy reddish peeling bark
- Attractive contrast between flowers and foliage
- Magnificent
- Highly nutritious fruit
Iris virginica
Moist wildflower garden.
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Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
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Habitat, Floodplains, floodplain marshes, marshes.
,
Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Pollinated by bumblebees and long-horned bees.
Butterflies visit for nector but are not effective pollinators.
- Available single or multi-stalked
- Elegant
- Fruit attracts wildlife
- Cold tolerant
Nymphaea odorata
While native in Florida, this species is invasive in other areas, especially the Pacific Northwest.
Aquatic species with floating leaves and flowers.
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Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
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Considertions, Could overrun small ponds or water features.
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Habitat, Aquatic. Marshes, swamps in openings, still water.
,
Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Flies, bees, and beetles have been recorded.
- Width often exceeds height
- Prominent pale green crownshaft
- Excellent hedge choice
- Easy/Carefree
- Ideal for smaller spaces
Manilkara jaimiqui subsp. emarginata
Rare. Listed by the FACS as Threatened. Please acquire only from reputable dalers with appropriate permits.
Screen or buffer plant. Specimen shrub.
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Tolerance, Tolerant of inundation with brackish water
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
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Wildlife, Provides food and cover for birds small mammals.
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Habitat, Coastal hammocks. Pine rocklands.
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Did You Know?, Interesting foliage
- Narrow canopy
- Showy reddish peeling bark
- Majestic, sprawling canopy
- Attracts butterflies
- Magnificent showy flowers in summer
