Each stem has soft, fleshy green flanges running longitudinally down its length. When winter weather brings ice, the stems exude water that freezes in , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Habitat, Moist forest edges. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Attracts native bees. Nectar source for butterflies.

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 , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , 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.