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 , 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, Used as nesting site and food source for birds. , Habitat, Tropical rockland hammock, coastal berm, maritime hammock. Calcareous soils including seasonally inundated flats and shallow depressions. , Did You Know?, Aroma, fragrance, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage, Hurricane wind resistance Larval host for monk skipper (Asbolis capucinus). Attracts bees.

Occurs along inland edges of salt marshes where it must tolerate at least periodic inundation by seawater.  Locations likely do not have high exposure , Tolerance, Tolerant of occasional/brief inundation such as can occur in storm surges. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Attracts insects, especially bees.

Shade tree. Also good for hedge rows. , 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 , Habitat, Dry sites. Hammocks, somewhat shady areas near the coast. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Showy fruits Larval host for cassius blue (Leptotes cassius) and hammock skipper (Polygonus leo) butterflies. Attracts bee pollinators

These species are, in combination, found throughout Florida and from a cultivation perspective, are very similar.  In nature, O. stricta tends to be i , 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 , Considertions, Thorns! The thorns on this plant make weeding around it difficult. Best planted where no one will be walking adjacent to the plant. , Habitat, Coastal dunes, coastal grasslands. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Showy fruits, Interesting foliage, Thorns Nectar plant for Meske's skipper (Hesperia meskei) butterflies. Attracts a variety of insect

While somewhat overly aggressive, it can be controlled. The author allows it to climb palm trees but pulls them off the tree to limit their size every , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Considertions, This is a fast growing vine. It also layers and suckers. These characteristics can make it weedy. It climbs by means of aerial rootlets, which can dam , Wildlife, Very attractive to hummingbirds which are its primary pollinators. , Habitat, Dry-moist sites. Riverine forests, mesic & dry mesic hammock especially where disturbed. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Larval host for the plebeian sphinx (Paratraea plebeja) moth.

The range of this plant appears to encompass most of Florida with actual occurrances having been found in streams with appropriate water chemistry (ap , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Habitat, Aquatic. Quiet pools in spring-run streams, spring-fed lakes and ponds, still water. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Everything from flies, to beetles, and various sorts of bees have been recorded on water lilies (In Defense of Plants blog).  Given the