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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
Quercus austrina
Relatively small for an oak. Use as specimen tree or in a grove.
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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, squirrels, racoons, deer and other wildlife eat the seeds.
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Habitat, Well drained bottomlands and bluffs.
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Did You Know?, Larval host for brown duskywing butterfly (Erynnis horatius), and gray hairstreak (Strymon melinus), and white-M hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album).
- Damaged by citrus canker
- Uncommon edible fruit
- Rapid growth
- Unique foliage and silhouette
- Very fast growth rate
Bidens laevis
Depending on the weather, this may be either an annual or perennial in Florida.
Informal gardens in wet sites.
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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, 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.
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Habitat, Swamps, river edget
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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
Prunus angustifolia
If a single plant of similar stature and flowers is desired, consider flatwoods plum, Prunus umbellatus.
Based on BONAP and ISB maps, the range of thi
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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, Spreads by underground stems forming clumps small thickets. Individual trees are fairly short-lived but the thicket is long-lived. When short-shoots d
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Wildlife, Birds, squirrels and other animals eat the fruit.
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Habitat, Woodland edges, fencerows, open woods. Also cultivated.
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Showy fruits
Flowers attract bees. Documented bee visitors include Dialictus placideizsis, Hylaeus conflzeizs, Euylaezcs pectoralis a
- Majestic, sprawling canopy
- Narrow enough for tight spaces
- Slow Growth
Pieris phyllyreifolia
Based on BONAP maps, the ISB maps and specimens, and one author's personal observations, the range of this species appears to be those parts of the co
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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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Habitat, Upland mixed forests, sandhill, cypress swamps, moist pinelands, white cedar swamps, sandhills near sinkhole ponds, often climbing on pond cypress or
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage
Said to attract early spring pollinators (Using Georgia Native Plants Blog).
- Easily trimmed for smaller spaces
- Requires occassional fertalization
- Fast growth
Echinacea purpurea
Requires a reliable cold period to persist. In most of Florida it can be treated as an annual in gardens.
Listed as Endangered by the State of Florida
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Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray.
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Considertions, The further south you go, the more short-lived this species gets. Except in extreme north Florida, treat as an annual or at least don't assume that i
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Wildlife, Small birds and small mammals consume the seed.
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Habitat, Upland glades, openings in upland mixed forests on calcareous soils.
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Attracts many pollinators, especially bees.
- Not recommended
- Unique, sweet almond flavor
- Attractive and unique swollen trunk
Amorpha fruticosa
Multistemmed shrub that can form small thickets. Plant as a screen, hedge, or background plant.
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Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray.
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Considertions, Can become aggressive in some habitats.
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Habitat, Moist hammocks, dry hammocks, dry hardwood forests
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Did You Know?, Fall color, Showy flowers
Larval host for southern dogface (Zerene cesonia), gray hairstreak (Strymon melinus), and silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreu
- Requires shade when young
- Colorful older leaves
- Symmetrical shape
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
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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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Habitat, Water. Ponds, lakes, quiet streams, swampa, ditches, canals. This species can be seen in the Lower Hillsborough Flood Detention Area in Hillsborough
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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
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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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Habitat, Wet prairie, herbaceous seepage areas, wet roadsides.
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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
Taxus floridana
This tree has male and female plants. Females have red berry-like cones.
This species is extremely rare. Be sure to obtain this plant from properly l
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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, Poisonous seeds and foliage for both humans and livestock.
Difficult to establish in general landscapes.
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Wildlife, Birds and other animals eat the fruit. Poisonous to humans and livestock.
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Habitat, Slope forest. Rich wooded ravines and cedar swamps. It typically grows in groups of small trees (clones). This species can be seen planted at Torreya
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Did You Know?, Showy fruits
- Magnificent showy flowers in summer
- Hummingbird favorite
- Distinctive-looking fruit with spiked exterior
- Massive, nutrient-dense edible fruit
- Unique foliage and silhouette
Hypericum tetrapetalum
Moist wildflower garden.
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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, Foliage and seeds are food source for birds and mammals.
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Habitat, Flatwoods, sandhill, ruderal areas.
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Did You Know?, Showy flowers
Attracts pollinators, especially bees. Documented bees include Augochlorella aurata, Dialictzcs coreopsis and D. lniniatulus (Deyrup et
- Produces aromatic flowers year-round
- Prominant olive crownshaft, slightly buldging
- Smaller stature
