Fronds are lacy and delicate in appearance. Ground cover. This is a clump-forming fern (all fronds arise from a central point) making it a good focal , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Wildlife, One resource (Misssouri Botantical Garden) indicates that it tolerates rabbits. , Habitat, Moist hammocks, swamps, shady bluffs. , Did You Know?, Interesting foliage

Groundcover for moist, shady areas. This is an attractive fern that can form large patches in the right habitat area. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Habitat, Seep slopes, wet hammocks. Shady, moist to wet swamp forests and floodplains. , Did You Know?, Interesting foliage

Spicy smell to crushed foliage. Florida is at the southern end of the range for this species, and the range is likely disjoint with the species occurr , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, Like it's relative redbay(Persea borbonia), it's susceptible to attacks by the redbay ambrosia beetle, which spreads a deadly fungus called Laural Wil , Wildlife, Birds and mammals eat the fruits. , Habitat, Bluffs, floodplains, calcareous hammocks. Rare. , Did You Know?, Aroma, fragrance, Showy fruits, Interesting foliage Larval host for the spice bush swallowtail and other butterflies.  Attracts bees and flies.

This is a wetland plant, but it will do well once established in a moist garden setting. Moist wildflower gardens. Easily grown along streams. , Tolerance, Tolerant of inundation with brackish water Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Habitat, Riverine swamps, riverine marshes, open wet prairies. , Did You Know?, Aroma, fragrance, Showy flowers Pollinated by sphinx moths. Larval host for Spanish moth a.k.a. convict caterpillar (Xanthopastis timais)

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)

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.

Use in moist areas as a wildflower. It is semi-woody, and if given adequate moisture can be a specimen plant. , Tolerance, Tolerant of inundation with brackish water Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Wildlife, Pollinated by bees, especially bumblebees and solitary anthophorid bees (Ptilithrix bombiformis).  Butterflies are attracted to the nector. , Habitat, Wet sites. Wet pine flatwoods, edges of sloughs, swamps, bogs, brackish and freshwater marshes and ditches. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Larval host of  Gray Hairstreak, Painted Lady Butterfly, Common Checkered Skipper and Tropical Checkered Skipper butterflies and  four

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.

Shade tree. This is a clone former, so it can also be used to provide screening or for an "island" of habitat for wildlife , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , 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. , Wildlife, Provides cover for birds and other animals. , Habitat, Dry-moist sites. River bottoms, upland hardwood forests, roadsides. , Did You Know?, Aroma, fragrance, Fall color, Interesting foliage, Hurricane wind resistance Larval host plant for luna (Actias luna) moths.

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

Weedy. Casual wildflower garden, butterfly garden or meadow. Likely to be considered a weed by many. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, Will reseed and can become weedy. , Habitat, Wet flatwoods, wet prairie, open transitional prairie bordering cypress swamps, wet roadside ditches. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Attracts butterflies and pollinators.

Restoration of savannas. Curiosity in the wildflower garden. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Wildlife, Small birds consume seed. , Habitat, Cutthroat seeps, wet flatwoods, savannas. , Did You Know?, Showy fruits it is the larval host plant of arogos skipper (Atrytone arogos) butterflies.