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
Bidens laevis
Depending on the weather, this may be either an annual or perennial in Florida.
Informal gardens in wet sites.
,
Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
,
Considertions, The fruits stick to pant legs and animal fur leading to moniker beggarticks. Generally no an issue in the wetland sites where this will grow.
,
Habitat, Swamps, river edget
,
Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Attracts native bees and butterflies
- Tall and romantic
- Fruit attracts wildlife
- Striking symmetrical appearance
- Unique and prized
- Beloved in South Florida
- Grows tall, but not massive
Solidago odora var. chapmanii
This forms clumps but does not form large clones, which means it will not take over a garden.
Wildflower garden
,
Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
,
Wildlife, Songbirds such as goldfinches and sparrows eat the seeds, and mice and deer browse the foliage and flowers.
Provides cover for many small animals inc
,
Habitat, Typically a plant of mesic to dry flatwoods and scrubby flatwoods. Can be ruderal.
,
Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Used for nectar by butterflies.
Attracts a wide variety of pollinators, especially bees. Documented bee visitors include Colletes maiz
- Not as popular as it once was
- Slow Growth
- Long-lived perennial
- Native
Polystichum acrostichoides
The range of this species includes much of eastern North America up into southern Canada. Its occurrence in Florida is sparse with appropriate substr
,
Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
,
Considertions, Benefits from periodic removal of old fronds.
,
Habitat, Rocky hammocks and upper margins of swamps.
,
Did You Know?, Interesting foliage
- No longer recommended
- Highly wind tolerant
- Stately and uncommon
- Unusual stilt roots
- Beloved in South Florida
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
Nymphoides aquatica
This species is listed as invasive in parts of the world where it is not native.
Water garden, planting of surface water management pond. Often used
,
Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
,
Habitat, Water. Ponds, lakes, quiet streams, swampa, ditches, canals. This species can be seen in the Lower Hillsborough Flood Detention Area in Hillsborough
,
Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Pollinated by bees and flies.
- Easy/Carefree native
- Handsome
- Pyramidal crown
- Does best in cooler areas of South Florida
- Easily trimmed to maintain desired size
- Does poorly in very wet soil
Coreopsis floridana
This is one of our larger (taller and larger flowers) Coreopsis species.
Useful as a colorful wildflower along the edge of a wetland. Often overlooke
,
Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
,
Habitat, Wet prairie, herbaceous seepage areas, wet roadsides.
,
Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Attracts many different butterflies and pollinators.
- Easily trimmed for smaller spaces
- Narrow canopy
- Stately and uncommon
- Attractive dark green leaves
Colubrina arborescens
Listed as endangered in Florida. Please acquire from appropriate sources.
Large tree or small shrub. Buffer planting or specimen tree.
,
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, Seeds. Can become a weed.
,
Wildlife, Birds and other small wildlife consume seed.
,
Habitat, Rockland hammocks and understory of pine rocklands.
,
Did You Know?, Interesting foliage
Pollinated by bees (http://tropical.theferns.info/).
- Native
- Narrow canopy
- Abundance of orange-red flowers in summer
- Lush, dense shade tree
Muhlenbergia capillaris
There are three subspecies included in this description. Together, they are found in all coastal counties of Florida and many inland ones. As a gras
,
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
,
Wildlife, Muhly grass forms a low canopy that small animals can use for shelter and refuge.
Small birds eat the seeds.
,
Habitat, Flatwoods, marshes, scrub.
,
Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Showy fruits, Interesting foliage
- Unique foliage and silhouette
- Clusters of tubular flowers
- Fruit attracts wildlife
- Can be kept narrow
Coreopsis lanceolata
In central Florida, lanceleaf has a relatively short blooming period compared to Leavenworth's tickseed - wrapping things up by mid-summer, whereas C.
,
Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
,
Considertions, Will self-seed and so could become weedy.
,
Habitat, Sandhills, edges of cypress swamps and marshes, ruderal areas.
,
Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Attracts butterflies and pollinators.
- Unique foliage and silhouette
- Briefly bare for about a month in the winter
- Elegant, dense canopy
Cynophalla flexuosa
Night blooming, fragrant.
,
Tolerance, Tolerant of occasional/brief inundation such as can occur in storm surges.
Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray.
,
Wildlife, Fruits eaten by birds.
,
Habitat, Dry sites. Coastal hammocks.
,
Did You Know?, Aroma, fragrance, Showy flowers
Larval host for Florida White (Appias drusilla) and Great Southern White (Ascia monuste).
- Colorful fall foliage
- Elegant appearance
- Unique, sweet, almond-like flavor
- Unusual stilt roots
- Attractive silver-gray foliage
- Attractive dark green leaves
Habenaria quinqueseta
Keep it if you have it.
,
Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
,
Habitat, Wet hammocks, meadows, fence rows, roadsides, open and dense woods, wet flatwoods, floodplain forests.
,
Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Pollinated by moths.
- Narrow enough for tight spaces
- Retains leaves until just before blooming
- Elegant
- Unusual deep green leaves with bronze underside
