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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
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Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
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Wildlife, Small seed-eating birds pick out the seeds from the mature flower heads.
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Habitat, Vary by species. Mostly sandhills, bogs, roadsides, ruderal.
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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
Stachytarpheta jamaicensis
This species can be distinguished from related non-natives by its trailing stems and lance-shaped leaves.
Stachytarpheta urticifolia, commonly sold by
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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
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Wildlife, Attracts hummingbirds.
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Habitat, Coastal strand, open areas in dry mesic hardwood forests, sometimes nestled under trees along sandy roadsides.
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Larval host for tropical buckeye (Junonia genoveva) butterfly.
Nectar plant for many butterflies and moths including: Bahamian swallow
- Highly nutritious fruit
- Rapid growth
- Towering
- Iconic symbol of the south
Sagittaria graminea
Often in water.
Use in water gardens or along the shallow edges of ponds.
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Tolerance, Tolerant of inundation with brackish water
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
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Wildlife, Fruit is eaten by birds and other wildlife.
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Habitat, Wet prairie, cypress swamps.
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Attracts various pollinators.
- Very rare
- Dark green leaves
- Beautiful rounded canopy
- Huge extremely fragrant flowers
- Highly wind tolerant
Celtis occidentalis
Further north, this can be a moderately large tree.
Not typically grown but worth retaining if present as an understory tree.
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Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
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Considertions, Has a shallow root system that may prevent plants from growing under it.
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Wildlife, Fruits are eaten by a number of birds and small mammals.
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Did You Know?, Larval host for hackberry emperor (Asterocampa celtis), and mourning cloak (Nymphalis antiopa) butterflies. Sole larval host plant for American snout
- Attractive variegated foliage
- Elegant
- Cold tolerant
- Fast growth
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.
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Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
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Considertions, Will self-seed and so could become weedy.
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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
Alvaradoa amorphoides
This is listed as an ENDANGERED by the State of Florida
An excellent accent shrub or small tree with open, spreading crown. Attractive fine textured,
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Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
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Considertions, This is a beautiful small tree that is rarely cultivated..
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Habitat, Rockland hammock edges
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Showy fruits
Larval host for dina yellow (Eurema dina) and cassius blue (Leptotes cassius theonus) butterflies.
- Attractive glossy leaves
- Raised diamond-shaped trunk pattern
- Silvery blue-green fronds
- Elegant appearance
Carya tomentosa
Large shade tree. Plant where falling/fallen nuts will not be a problem.
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Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
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Considertions, Plant where nut and leaf litter will not be a problem.
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Wildlife, Small mammals (squirrels and other rodents) consume nuts.
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Habitat, Dry hammocks, dry hardwood forests
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Did You Know?, Fall color
Larval host for many moths including; luna moth (Actias luna), hickory leafroller moth (Argyrotaenia juglandana), royal walnut moth (Cithe
- Requires protection from strong winds
- Dense canopy
- Somewhat drought tolerant
- Attractive silver-gray foliage
- Intoxicating fragrance
- Magnificent when flowering
Quercus myrtifolia
This plant can form clones from underground stems. It is adapted to fire environments.
Forms a thicket with many sprouts from spreading roots
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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
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Wildlife, Small mammals use the acorns.
Provides significant food and cover for wildlife.
The acorns are utilized by squirrels.
An important food source for th
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Habitat, Scrub, scrubby flatwoods, scrubby sandhill.
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Did You Know?, Hurricane wind resistance
Larval host for Horace's duskywing (Erynnis horatius), red-banded hairstreak (Calycopis cecrops) and white-M hairstreak (P
- Silvery blue-green fronds
- Smaller stature
- Easy/Carefree
- Attractive glossy leaves
Clematis reticulata
Grow on a fence, trellis, or arbor. In informal settings, allow to twine around tree or shrub stems. Interesting bell-shaped flowers and whorled white
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Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
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Wildlife, Birds and other small wildlife consume seed.
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Habitat, Dry mesic upland mixed forest, sandhill.
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Showy fruits
Larval host for mournful thyris (Thyris sepulchralis).
Attracts various pollinators, especially bees.
- Adequate fertalization required
- Thrives only briefly, about 1 year
- Showy red berries
- Elegant appearance
- Swollen, succulent branches
Bidens mitis
May be annual or perennial depending on weather.
Moist wildflower gardens
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Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
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Considertions, All beggarticks have fruits that will attach themselves to clothing or get stuck in animal fur. Generally not problematic for this species
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Habitat, Swamps and marshes, typically in areas that are near edges
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Attracts bees and butterflies. Bees include Agapostemon splendens, Augochlora pura, Augochlorella aurata, A. gratiosa, Augochloropsis
- Medium stature
- Attractive glossy leaves
- Unique foliage
- Rare, despite being a South Florida native
- Delicious edible fruit
Helianthus agrestis
This is Florida's only native annual sunflower. The Bradford County location is near both a major road and a railroad and may be a waif.
Moist wildf
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Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
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Wildlife, Birds and small mammals eat the seeds.
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Habitat, Pinelands, savannas, ruderal.
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Primarily pollinated by bees. The goldenrod soldier beetle (a.k.a. leatherwing beetle (Chauliognathus pensylvanicus) is a goldenrod pol
- Showy reddish peeling bark
- Very showy clusters of red flowers
- Grows tall, but not massive
Lyonia fruticosa
Retain if present. Can be used as part of a screen in a dry site setting.
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Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
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Considertions, Slow growing.
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Habitat, Dry-moist sites. Cutthroat seeps, scrub, scrubby flatwoods, scrub.
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Attracts bees. The following Hymenoptera families and species were observed visiting flowers of Lyonia fruticosa at Archbold Biologica
- Briefly bare for about a month in the winter
- Lovely dark green, shiny leaves
- Heavy feeder
