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Tripsacum dactyloides
In a managed garden, gamagrass can be trimmed back at the end of winter.
Hedge, foundation planting, individual large grass clump, background screen
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Tolerance, Tolerant of occasional/brief inundation such as can occur in storm surges.
Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray.
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Considertions, Can die back and become messy during cold winters, but new growth covers it in the spring.
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Wildlife, Even when trimmed occasionally, Gama Grass will provide cover for small mammals, birds, and reptiles. Deer eat the seeds.
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Habitat, Wet bogs, roadsides, ditches, wet hammocks, river banks, low thickets, pine woods, open swamps, open habitats, flatwoods, sandhill, scrub. Also culti
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Showy fruits
Larval host for three-spotted skipper (Cymaenes tripunctus), clouded skipper (Lerema accius) and Byssusskipper (Problema
- Requires protection from strong winds
- Unique and prized
- Attractive flowers, typically deep orange
- Handsome
- Highly nutritious fruit
- Wonderfully fragrant at night
Echinacea purpurea
Requires a reliable cold period to persist. In most of Florida it can be treated as an annual in gardens.
Listed as Endangered by the State of Florida
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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, The further south you go, the more short-lived this species gets. Except in extreme north Florida, treat as an annual or at least don't assume that i
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Wildlife, Small birds and small mammals consume the seed.
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Habitat, Upland glades, openings in upland mixed forests on calcareous soils.
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Attracts many pollinators, especially bees.
- Not recommended
- Unique, sweet almond flavor
- Attractive and unique swollen trunk
Cercis canadensis
Bloom can be long lasting relative to other early spring blooming trees -- as long as a month. Duration is dependent on temperature. Flowers grow dire
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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, At the extreme south end of its range, it may not bloom well. The wood is weak and is likely to break off during a high wind event unless grouped with
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Habitat, Upland hardwood forests. Bluffs, hammocks, secondary woods.
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage
Larval host for Henry's elfin (Callophrys henrici) and io moth (Automeris io).
Popular with bees including bumbleb
- Highly versatile
- Ideal with Mediterranean architecture
- Ideal for smaller spaces
- Unique foliage and silhouette
Juniperus virginiana
The blue fruits on this tree are actually fleshy cones.
Often used as a screen by planting in one or two fairly dense rows. Also useful as a backgrou
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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
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Wildlife, Birds eat the fruit-like cones and use the foliage for cover.
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Habitat, Calcareous soils, shell mounds, coastal hammocks, second growth on open rocky fields. Open.
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Did You Know?, Interesting foliage, Hurricane wind resistance
- Very showy clusters of red flowers
- Prominent blue-gray crownshaft
- Thick branching into attractive silouttes
- Majestic and graceful
Penstemon laevigatus
Informal shady semi-shady gardens.
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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 hardwood forests
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Attracts bees, butterflies.
Larval host for common buckeye (Junonia coenia).
- Prominent blue-gray crownshaft
- Prized scent, used in commercial perfumes
- Prominant gray-olive crownshaft
- Raised diamond-shaped trunk pattern
Symphyotrichum concolor
Benefits from controlled burns. There are contradictions in herbarium databases, and reliable observations in counties where there are no herbarium sp
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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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Wildlife, Used as browse by deer to the extent that in some states, browsing is an issue.
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Habitat, Dry, sandy
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Nectar plant for many butterfly species but also visited by other native insect pollinators.
- Tiered branches
- Wind tolerant
- Sometime grows horozontially
- Massive stature
- Width often exceeds height
- Slender and elegant
Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis
Used extensively in Indian cultures. Fruits are very high in Vitamin C.
Casual settings, wetland edge or screen plant. Rain gardens and bioswales. Lo
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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, Many would consider this plant weedy: it does self seed and spread via rhizomes. It's wood is weak; stems break easily. Use where these characteristic
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Wildlife, Fruits popular with birds.
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Habitat, Disturbed wetland edges, wet roadsides, etc.
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Showy fruits, Interesting foliage
Flowers attract many pollinators.
- Damaged by citrus canker
- Recently classified invasive
- Very showy bright yellow flowers
- Relatively compact and narrow canopy
- Requires ample space and light
Rhynchospora colorata
This is a sedge. Most Rhynchospora species are wind pollinated. The white bracts of this species attract insects.
Can use as a groundcover in moist s
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Tolerance, Tolerant of inundation with brackish water
Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray.
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Habitat, Wet flatwoods, wet prairie.
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Attracts bees and butterflies. This is a sedge, and most sedges are wind pollinated, so having a showy "flower" and attracting insects
- Classic Southern tree
- Excellent choice for narrow spaces
- Fast growth
Illicium floridanum
The distribution mimics the distribution of steepheads, a stream/valley system that originates in a very steep-headed ravine where the water seeps out
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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, Slope forest, floodplain forest, hydric hammocks, seep stream (banks), steepheads.
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage
Pollinated by a variety of insects, especially native flies and beetles.
- Attractive and unique swollen trunk
- Thrives only briefly, about 1 year
- Massive, nutrient-dense edible fruit
- Attracts butterflies
- Requires high humidity
Pseudophoenix sargentii
This species is endangered in Florida. Please acquire only through reputable nurserymen. To maintain the genetic integrity of the species, please use
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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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Habitat, Tropical rockland hammock.
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Did You Know?, Interesting bark, Interesting foliage, Hurricane wind resistance
Attracts bees.
- Colorful older leaves
- Attractive tiered canopy
- Recently classified invasive
Thrinax radiata
Leaves are 2-3 feet across. Listed as Endangered by the state of Florida.
Accent or specimen tree in the landscape, also good along roadsides and med
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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
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Wildlife, Used as nesting site and food source for birds.
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Habitat, Tropical rockland hammock, coastal berm, maritime hammock. Calcareous soils including seasonally inundated flats and shallow depressions.
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Did You Know?, Aroma, fragrance, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage, Hurricane wind resistance
Larval host for monk skipper (Asbolis capucinus).
Attracts bees.
- No longer recommended
- Forms an open canopy
- Massive stature when mature
- Unusual deep green leaves with bronze underside
- Often draped with Spanish moss
Torreya taxifolia
In the wild, Torreya is dying out due to disease. If choosing to plant this species, obtain disease-free (out-of-state) specimens and plant well-remov
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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, Disease. Do not plant in areas where the species grows naturally due to disease -- this means avoiding the bluffs along the Apalachicola River.
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Wildlife, Birds eat seeds.
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Habitat, Slope forest, upland hardwood forest. Rich wooded ravines.
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Did You Know?, Interesting foliage
- Prolific fruiter
- Majestic, sprawling canopy
- Excellent small hedge
- Breathtaking
- Easy/Carefree native
