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Crocanthemum spp.
Choose a species that grows naturally in your area.
Wildflower garden. Rarely grown, mostly small wildflowers. Plant near the front of the garden s
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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, Mostly in open, relatively dry sites.
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers
The primary pollinator is bees, including bumblebees, though at least for some species, flies and beetles visit some Crocanthemum spec
- Extremely popular
- Pleasant rounded shape
- Readily pruned into attractive shapes
- Wide umbrella-shaped canopy
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
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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, Scrub, scrubby flatwoods, overgrown sandhill.
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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
Paspalum vaginatum
Similar in general appearance to St. Augustine grass. To look nice as a turf grass, seashore paspalum requires water and fertilizer and needs frequent
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Tolerance, Tolerant of frequent or regular inundation (usually areas with tidal inundation)
High. Can tolerate significant and ongoing amounts of salty wind and
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Considertions, Said to be hard to cut and requires frequent cutting. If cut too low, it may recover slowly.
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Habitat, Beaches, borders of salt marshes, disturbed brackish sites.
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Did You Know?, Interesting foliage
- Extremely popular
- Lovely deep green, glossy leaves
- Intoxicating fragrance
- Beautiful purple-brown crownshaft
- Requires protection from strong winds
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.
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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
Rudbeckia mollis
Use in a wildflower garden. Good for roadside wilflower plantings.
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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, Seeds eaten by small birds.
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Habitat, Mostly ruderal.
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Attracts bumble bees, butterflies
Larval host for the silvery checkerspot, found only in extreme north Florida.
- Susceptible to breakage, even in moderate winds
- Available multi-stalked
- Excellent hedge choice
- Edible, healthy fruit
Viburnum rufidulum
Specimen plant, screen plant, understory tree/shrub.
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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 pollinators. Birds and other wildlife consume fruit.
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Habitat, Upland hardwood forests, bluffs, secondary woods.
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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
Eugenia foetida
Used as a foundation or hedge plant. Large shrub to small tree. Can also be used as a specimen plant.
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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
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Wildlife, Birds and other wildlife consume fruit. Provides good cover.
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Habitat, Coastal hammocks, hammocks.
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Did You Know?, Aroma, fragrance, Interesting foliage, Hurricane wind resistance
Attracts pollinators.
- Swollen, succulent branches
- Produces aromatic flowers year-round
- Somewhat salt tolerant
- Tall and stately
- Pyramidal crown
- Bright red fruits
Silphium asteriscus
The bloom period is relatively long - lasting from early spring, well into fall.
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, Seeds eaten by birds.
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Habitat, Moist roadsides, flatwoods, sandhill, scrub.
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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
Mimosa strigillosa
Needs substantial water during establishment, then relatively drought tolerant.
Nodules on the roots of the plant, with the help of Rhizobium bacteria
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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, Like most turf replacements, this plant wants to spread. If you don't want that, keep it hemmed in by using a barrier or by trimming.
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Habitat, Open, disturbed areas. Typically fairly moist but tolerates dry soils after establishment.
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage
Host plant for the little sulphur (Eurema lisa) butterfly. (Fl Wildflower Foundation)
Pollinated mainly by bees
- Recently classified invasive
- Abundance of orange-red flowers in summer
- Colorful new leafs
- Cornerstone plant in South Florida
- Fast growth
Clematis crispa
Climbs by twining petioles.
Grow on a trellis or fence.
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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, To remain attractive and not become a mass of past growth, cut it back occasionally. Thin out old stems.
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Wildlife, Attracts hummingbords.
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Habitat, Riverine swamps, wet hammocks. This species can be seen near the boardwalks at Flint Creek and Sargeant Parks in Hillsborough County.
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Did You Know?, Aroma, fragrance, Showy flowers, Showy fruits, Interesting foliage
Larval host for mournful thyris (Thyris sepulchralis).
Attracts bees and butterfli
- Damaged by citrus canker
- Uncommon edible fruit
- Attractive variegated foliage
Itea virginica
While occurring naturally in wetlands, this plant makes a good shrub in reasonably moist uplands.
Use as a background plant in moist, shady areas. Ch
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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, Dome swamps, riverine swamps, seep slopes.
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Did You Know?, Fall color, Showy flowers
Attracts a wide variety of insect pollinators.
- Arched, recurving fronds
- Cold tolerant
- Formal, old-world appearance
- Long-lived perennial
Swietenia mahagoni
Listed as Threatened by the Florida FDACS.
Host plant for mahogony mistletoe,Phoradendron rubrum, which is listed as Endangered by the Florida FDAS.
T
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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, Tropical rockland hammock, coastal hammocks.
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Did You Know?, Aroma, fragrance, Showy fruits, Interesting foliage, Hurricane wind resistance
Attracts a diverse community of small butterflies and moths. Many spec
- Width often exceeds height
- Smaller stature
- Sprawling and informal shrub
