Filters
Sort
Sort
Sort By :
By :
Grid View
List View
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
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
,
Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
,
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
,
Habitat, Upland hardwood forests. Bluffs, hammocks, secondary woods.
,
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
Zigadenus glaberrimus
Moist wildflower garden, especially acidic gardens oriented toward sphagnum, pitcher plants, and similar bog species.
,
Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
,
Wildlife, Attracts pollinators.
,
Habitat, Flatwoods, wet prairie, savanna.
,
Did You Know?, Showy flowers
- Recently classified invasive
- Pleasant rounded shape
- Often draped with Spanish moss
- Smaller stature
- Stunning long emerald crownshaft
Brickellia cordifolia
This is a rare plant. Please acquire responsibly (don't steal from the wild).
Not common in the nursery trade (we are aware of one North Florida nurs
,
Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
,
Habitat, Open woodlands
,
Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Especially attractive to butterflies.
- Attractive symmetrical appearance
- Beautiful rounded canopy
- Very rare
- Slender and elegant
- Easy/Carefree
- Prominent pale green crownshaft
Zanthoxylum clava-herculis
Wood is quite soft and weak. This author had one break in a storm. It did however resprout from low on the trunk and the sprout is now about 15 ft t
,
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, Quite thorny.
,
Wildlife, Birds and other wildlife eat the fruit.
,
Habitat, Hammocks, wet woods, dunes, shell middens.
,
Did You Know?, Interesting bark, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage, Thorns
Larval host for giant swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes).
- Attracts butterflies and bees
- Showy display of fruit
- Beautiful sweeping fronds with drooping leaflets
- Killed by citrus greening (HLB)
Gordonia lasianthus
Makes a good specimen tree or a cluster of in wet areas along margins of lakes and ponds.
This tree is columnar in form and can make a formal-looking
,
Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
,
Considertions, Sensitive to drying. Difficult to grow unless its moisture requirements are met.
,
Wildlife, Attracts hummingbirds.
,
Habitat, Moist-wet sites. Seepage swamps, bay swamps, edges of cypress domes, low flatwoods. This species is likely restricted to wetland edges both by its ne
,
Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage
Flowers attract a variety of insects including bees and flies.
- Heavy feeder
- Attractive contrast between flowers and foliage
- Beloved in South Florida
Pinus palustris
Highly tolerant of fire once established.
Shade tree. Woodland tree.
,
Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
,
Considertions, Huge pine cones litter the ground, so not a good tree for a lawn.
,
Wildlife, Known for its use by squirrels, especially fox squirrels. Birds also eat the nuts.
Old trees in well managed (properly burned) natural sandhill and fl
,
Habitat, Sandhill, mesic to dry flatwoods.
,
Did You Know?, Hurricane wind resistance
- Rapid growth
- Dark green leaves
- Colorful new leafs
- Requires shade when young
- Majestic, sprawling canopy
Thelypteris spp.
These are generally moist site ferns though some (T. kunthii, T. ovata) grow in mesic uplands. Most are similar in appearance, and all will grow in a
,
Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
,
Considertions, The native range varies by species. Please use species appropriate to your area.
,
Wildlife, Cover for many ground-dwelling species.
,
Habitat, Hydric and mesic hammocks, shallow swamps and swamp edges, floodplains.
,
Did You Know?, Interesting foliage
- Tiered branches
- Very showy bright yellow flowers
- Will not tolerate frost
- Somewhat salt tolerant
- Formal, old-world appearance
- Elegant and stately
Woodwardia areolata
This colony-forming fern is well-behaved in the landscape.
Use as a groundcover in moist areas, rain gardens, or bioswales.
,
Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
,
Considertions, It grows best in drier areas if there is some shade. In full sun, it requires reliable moisture.
,
Wildlife, Provides cover for small wildlife such as toads.
,
Habitat, Dome swamp, hydric hammock, seep slopes over limestone, hydric pine flatwoods.
,
Did You Know?, Interesting foliage
- Edible, healthy fruit
- Unusual deep green leaves with bronze underside
- Excellent small hedge
- Moderately slow growth
- Elegant and stately
- Compact size
Chrysophyllum oliviforme
Specimen tree. Valued for its foliage which is shiny green on top and silky brown beneath.
,
Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray.
,
Considertions, Slow growing. May be top-killed by frost in extreme northern parts of its range or when planted to the north of its natural range. Does resprout from
,
Wildlife, Birds and other wildlife consume fruit.
,
Habitat, Tropical rockland hammocks.
,
Did You Know?, Interesting foliage, Hurricane wind resistance
Insect pollinated.
- Requires high humidity
- Fruit attracts wildlife
- Very showy clusters of flowers
- Readily pruned into attractive shapes
- Killed by citrus greening (HLB)
- Recently classified invasive
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
Calamintha coccinea
Short lived. Rarely grown as it is difficult to establish.
Retain it in the landscape if is is occurring naturally.
,
Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
,
Considertions, Difficult to establish and requires highly specific site conditions.
,
Wildlife, Attracts hummingbirds.
,
Habitat, Scrub, in open areas. Sandhills, coastal hammocks. Mostly near the coast.
,
Did You Know?, Aroma, fragrance, Showy flowers
Attracts bees, and butterflies.
- Attractive contrast between flowers and foliage
- Can be kept narrow
- Very showy clusters of flowers
- Can be grown indoors
- Symmetrical shape
