Very robust.  Forms large patches.  Given its potential to be very tall, it may needs to have support from adjacent plants.   Data on salt tolerance c , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Wildlife, Seeds eaten by small birds such as finches. , Habitat, Forests , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Attracts bumble bees, butterflies Larval host for the silvery checkerspot, found only in extreme north Florida.

An important sand stabilizer in the pioneer zone of beach dunes and can tolerate occasional flooding by sea water. Use as a groundcover in moist coas , Tolerance, Tolerant of frequent or regular inundation (usually areas with tidal inundation) High. Can tolerate significant and ongoing amounts of salty wind and , Habitat, Coastal forests, coastal dunes. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage Nectar plant for Miami blue (Cyclargus thomasi bethunebakeri) butterflies (USFWS, Federal Register, 2011-08-10 ) A

Note: There are cultivars, such as "Little Gem" sold in nurseries that originate from non-Florida stock (Little Gem is a North Carolina tree). Suitabi , 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, Fruits are eaten (and spread) by  squirrels, opossums, and birds including quail, and turkey. , Habitat, Slope forest, dry-mesic to mesic upland hardwood forest. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Showy fruits, Interesting foliage, Hurricane wind resistance Beetles are the primary pollinators. The flowers have a hardened carpel t

Like most oaks, the leaves are highly variable with leaves in the upper parts of the tree generally being more finely divided. Shade tree. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , 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 bluffs, sinks, secondary woods. , Did You Know?, Fall color Host plant for the banded hairstread, Edward's hairstreak, Grey Hairstreak, white-mouth hairstreak, white-M hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album