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Helianthus spp.
For best results, use species naturally found in your area
Wildflower garden. Most species bloom best if in light shade or sun, though it does depend
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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, Birds love the seeds.
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Habitat, Flatwoods, woodlands, ruderal areas.
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Bees and butterflies are attracted to sunflowers. The goldenrod soldier beetle (a.k.a. leatherwing beetle(, Chauliognathus pensylvanicu
- Does poorly in very wet soil
- Handsome
- Lovely dark green, shiny leaves
- Tropical silhouette
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
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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, Attracts hummingbirds.
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Habitat, Moist-wet sites. Seep swamps, pineland-wetland ecotones, edges of bay swamps, moist woods.
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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
Cornus foemina
Use along streams or edges of retention areas. Can be a screen or specimen tree in moist areas. Blooms better in moderate to high light settings.
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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, Birds and small mammals consume the fruit.
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Habitat, Riverine swamps, bluffs, bluffs, gum swamps. Typically in areas of relatively brief, shallow inundation.
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Did You Know?, Interesting bark, Showy flowers, Showy fruits, Hurricane wind resistance
Attracts long-tongued bees, short-tongued bees, wasps, flies, and butterflie
- Massive stature
- Prominant olive crownshaft, slightly buldging
- Long-lasting year-round blooms
Solidago odora
Wildflower garden. Meadow.
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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, Spreads aggressively via rhizomes.
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Habitat, Sandhill, dunes, pine-oak-hickory woods, secondary woods.
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Did You Know?, Aroma, fragrance, Showy flowers
Attracts many pollinators. The goldenrod soldier beetle (a.k.a. leatherwing beetle(, Chauliognathus pensylvanicus is
- Extremely versatile
- Does best with periodic fertalization
- Attracts butterflies and bees
- Stunning during brief late spring bloom
- Unusual deep green leaves with bronze underside
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
Vernonia gigantea
The genus name honors the English botanist William Vernon, who did fieldwork in North America.
Back of a moist wildflower garden. Can also use on the
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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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Habitat, Exposed sand and gravel bars of streams during low water, stream banks, hydric to wet mesic pine flatwoods. Rich soils. Ruderal.
,
Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Nectar attracts butterflies and native beens.
Larval host for spring azure butterfly.
- Colorful new leafs
- Rare, despite being a South Florida native
- Beautiful rounded dense canopy
Liquidambar styraciflua
Shade tree. This is a clone former, so it can also be used to provide screening or for an "island" of habitat for wildlife
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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, Plant where its persistent bur-like fruits (gum balls) will not be underfoot. Also, its resinous leaves will stain cement driveways and car finishes.
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Wildlife, Provides cover for birds and other animals.
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Habitat, Dry-moist sites. River bottoms, upland hardwood forests, roadsides.
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Did You Know?, Aroma, fragrance, Fall color, Interesting foliage, Hurricane wind resistance
Larval host plant for luna (Actias luna) moths.
- Prominent pale green or blue-gray crownshaft
- Wonderfully fragrant at night
- Easy/Carefree
- Lovely deep green, glossy leaves
Coreopsis linifolia
Weedy.
Casual wildflower garden, butterfly garden or meadow. Likely to be considered a weed by many.
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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, Will reseed and can become weedy.
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Habitat, Wet flatwoods, wet prairie, open transitional prairie bordering cypress swamps, wet roadside ditches.
,
Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Attracts butterflies and pollinators.
- Available multi-stalked
- Wonderfully fragrant flowers
- Stately and uncommon
Cyrilla racemiflora
Hedge plant.
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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 unburned natural wetlands, this plant sometimes form almost impenetrable thickets along the edge.
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Wildlife, Birds and other wildlife consume the fruit.
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Habitat, Swampy sites, wet pine flatwoods, sloughs and edges of cypress swamps, seepage swamps and bogs, savannas, other wet depressional areas.
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Did You Know?, Fall color, Showy flowers, Showy fruits, Interesting foliage
Attracts bees (https://wildflower.org).
- Massive, nutrient-dense edible fruit
- Beautiful purple-brown crownshaft
- Rapid growth
- Cold tolerant
- Ringed trunk
Ctenium aromaticum
Restoration of savannas. Curiosity in the 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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Wildlife, Small birds consume seed.
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Habitat, Cutthroat seeps, wet flatwoods, savannas.
,
Did You Know?, Showy fruits
it is the larval host plant of arogos skipper (Atrytone arogos) butterflies.
- Prized scent, used in commercial perfumes
- Dense attractive foliage
- Tropical silhouette
- Stately and uncommon
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.
,
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
