Filters
Sort
Sort
Sort By :
By :
Grid View
List View
Pteris bahamensis
Bahama ladder brake hybridizes with the non-native and invasive China brake (P. vittata) forming Delchamps' ladder brake (P. x delchampsii). Bahama la
,
Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
,
Considertions, Needs periodic removal of old fronds -- cut the clumps back in winter or early spring.
,
Habitat, Pine rockland, sinkhole (edges). On limestone.
,
Did You Know?, Interesting foliage
- Stunning during brief late spring bloom
- Tropical silhouette
- Striking and exotic
- Stunning
- Very rare
Quercus marilandica
Small to medium tree often with somewhat scruffy form. Retain in a natural setting if present.
,
Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
,
Considertions, Fallen/falling acorns can be an issue.
,
Wildlife, The acorns are eaten by woodpeckers, blue jays, white-breasted nuthatches, American crows and wild turkey
Attracts small mammals including squirrels,
,
Habitat, Pine-oak-hickory woods, dry longleaf pinelands with loamy soils or clay hardpan, dry secondary woods.
,
Did You Know?, Host plant for the White-M Hairstreak and Horace's Duskywing butterflies.
- Intoxicating fragrance
- Thrives only briefly, about 1 year
- Very fast growth rate
Rudbeckia spp.
Multiple species are native to Florida. Most are attractive and many are easy to grow. This is a catch-all for species not listed individually. Ple
,
Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
,
Wildlife, Small seed-eating birds pick out the seeds from the mature flower heads.
,
Habitat, Vary by species. Mostly sandhills, bogs, roadsides, ruderal.
,
Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Attract butterflies, bees and wasps.
- Long emerald crownshaft
- Can be grown indoors
- Somewhat drought tolerant
- Colorful new leafs
- No longer recommended
Symphyotrichum dumosum
Wildflower garden, meadow.
,
Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
,
Habitat, Sandhills, flatwoods, pine-oak-hickory woods, floodplains, secondary woods, cutthroat seep.
,
Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Attracts pollinators, especially native bees.
Larval host plant for pearl crescent (Phyciodes tharos) butterflies.
- Not a true pine
- Will not tolerate frost
- Massive, nutrient-dense edible fruit
Helianthus debilis subsp. cucumerifolius
This subspecies has a broad distribution that extends west into Texas and north into northern New England. It is found broadly but sporatically in Fl
,
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
,
Wildlife, Birds and small mammals eat the seeds.
,
Habitat, Beach dune. Disturbed sandy areas both near the coast and inland.
,
Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Primarily pollinated by bees.
- Dense canopy
- Slender and elegant
- Iconic symbol of the south
Amorpha fruticosa
Multistemmed shrub that can form small thickets. Plant as a screen, hedge, or background plant.
,
Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray.
,
Considertions, Can become aggressive in some habitats.
,
Habitat, Moist hammocks, dry hammocks, dry hardwood forests
,
Did You Know?, Fall color, Showy flowers
Larval host for southern dogface (Zerene cesonia), gray hairstreak (Strymon melinus), and silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreu
- Requires shade when young
- Colorful older leaves
- Symmetrical shape
Lantana depressa var. depressa
This is a rare South Florida native that has entered the nursery trade. A major concern is hybridization with Lantana strigocamara, a multicolored inv
,
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
,
Wildlife, Birds eat the fruits and spread the seeds.
,
Habitat, Pine rockland. On limestone. Vacant lots.
,
Did You Know?, Showy flowers
May be pollinated by butterflies during the day and by moths at night (Osorio 2012). Also visited by bees.
- Forms an open canopy
- Lovely dark green, shiny leaves
- Attractive mottled bark
- Narrow canopy
- Beautiful rounded dense canopy
- Wonderfully fragrant, carries a great distance
Sagittaria graminea
Often in water.
Use in water gardens or along the shallow edges of ponds.
,
Tolerance, Tolerant of inundation with brackish water
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
,
Wildlife, Fruit is eaten by birds and other wildlife.
,
Habitat, Wet prairie, cypress swamps.
,
Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Attracts various pollinators.
- Very rare
- Dark green leaves
- Beautiful rounded canopy
- Huge extremely fragrant flowers
- Highly wind tolerant
Chasmanthium latifolium
Groundcover or border plant in shady areas.
,
Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
,
Considertions, It reseeds easily and can expand aggressively.
,
Wildlife, Birds and other wildlife consume seed.
,
Habitat, Dry-moist sites. Bluffs, floodplains, wet hammocks.
,
Did You Know?, Showy fruits
Larval host for pepper and salt skipper (Amblyscirtes hegon), common roadside skipper (Amblyscirtes vialis), and Bell's roadside skipper
- Prominent pale green crownshaft
- Produces aromatic flowers year-round
- Prominent pale green or blue-gray crownshaft
- Fragrant clusters of flowers in fall
- Unusual deep green leaves with bronze underside
Liatris savannensis
Endemic to western peninsular Florida from Tampa south to Charlotte County.
Wildflower garden.
,
Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
,
Considertions, Sometimes the flower stalks are too tall and heavy to stand. Can be cut back mid-summer to reduce height. In a large garden, the twisted fallen stalks
,
Habitat, Flatwoods.
,
Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Attracts butterflies and bees.
- Salt tolerant
- Very slow growth
- Does best in warmer areas of South Florida
- Sprawling and informal shrub
Cladium jamaicense
Sawgrass is a sedge, not a grass. It was this plant that Marjory Stoneman Douglas referred to in her seminal work: "The Everglades: River of Grass."
A
,
Tolerance, Tolerant of inundation with brackish water
High. Can tolerate significant and ongoing amounts of salty wind and salt spray without injury.
,
Considertions, Blades have sharp edges...hence the common name. Best planted where people will not brush by it.
,
Habitat, Swamps, marshes, shores of water bodies, common in coastal marsh, glades, cypress prairie.
,
Did You Know?, Larval host of the Palatka skipper (Euphyes pilatka).
- Prominent pale green crownshaft
- Very showy clusters of flowers
- Unique fluffy fronds
- Massive stature
Lupinus diffusus
Given that this is short-lived (biennial) and difficult to transplant or grow from seed, this is perhaps best encouraged in places where it grows natu
,
Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
,
Considertions, Hard to establish. Biennial, though may reseed.
,
Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Showy fruits, Interesting foliage
Larval host for frosted elfin (Callophyris irus) butterfly, which is listed as Endangered in Flori
- Very full crown
- Attractive symmetrical appearance
- Majestic and graceful
