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Plant as a small understory tree. Good as a general background plant that is appropriate to wildlife. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, It's dioecious; so make sure you have at least one male plant in the vicinity to produce berries on the females. , Wildlife, Fruits are eaten by birds and small mammals. , Habitat, Dry hammocks, sandhills, scrub, dunes. , Did You Know?, Showy fruits Bees pollinate flowers.
  • Moderately slow growth
  • Attractive flowers, typically deep orange
  • Critically endangered
  • Stunning
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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
  • Attractive and unique swollen trunk
  • Often draped with Spanish moss
  • Handsome
  • Attractive dark green leaves
  • Elegant appearance
  • Distinctive-looking fruit with spiked exterior
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Plant in moist to wet areas where it can be grown in large clumps. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, Toxic. , Habitat, Open seepage areas, marshes, marshy areas along streams. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Larval host to the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), queen butterfly (Danaus gilippus) and soldier butterfly, (Danaus eresimus). At
  • Unique, fern-like leaves
  • Attracts butterflies and bees
  • Abundance of orange-red flowers in summer
  • Very showy clusters of red flowers
  • Elegant and stately
  • Wonderfully fragrant flowers
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This is a large tree best used in settings where its form can be appreciated. It is both a specimen tree and and shade tree. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Considertions, In some settings, the tree begins as an epiphyte and sends roots down to the ground wrapping around the host. This is interesting in natural settings , Wildlife, Birds and small mammals consume fruit and often deposit seeds high in the canopy. , Habitat, Moist-wet sites to dry sites and on shallow soils over limestone. Tropical hammocks, swamps. May be epiphytic or have aerial roots that may wrap arou , Did You Know?, Interesting bark, Showy fruits, Interesting foliage Larval host for ruddy daggerwing (Marpesia petreus) and Antillean daggerwing (Marpesia eleuchea)
  • Rapid growth
  • Slow Growth
  • Wonderfully fragrant
  • Lovely dark green, shiny leaves
  • Unique flowers, with petals like banana peels
  • Can be grown indoors
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Given that this is short-lived (biennial) and difficult to transplant or grow from seed, this is perhaps best encouraged in places where it grows natu , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, Hard to establish. Biennial, though may reseed. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Showy fruits, Interesting foliage Larval host for  frosted elfin (Callophyris irus) butterfly, which is listed as  Endangered in Flori
  • Very full crown
  • Attractive symmetrical appearance
  • Majestic and graceful
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The range of this species barely makes it into north Florida but extends north to southern Canada. Shade tree. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, Fallen/falling acorns can be a maintenance issue. , Wildlife, Acorns appreciated by squirrels, deer, turkey and other wildlife Used by birds for resting and nesting Larval host for gray hairstreak butterfly , Habitat, Mesic calcareous hammocks. , Did You Know?, Larval host for the white-M hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album).
  • Elegant
  • Towering
  • Extremely versatile
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Florida has a number of Phlox species, almost all found in forested settings. The common roadside species (Phlox drummondii) is not a Florida native ( , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Wildlife, Some phlox  species attract hummingbirds. , Habitat, Open woods. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Attracts butterflies and bees.
  • Very full crown
  • Smaller stature
  • Wonderfully fragrant
  • Does best in cooler areas of South Florida
  • Moderately drought tolerant
  • Decorative diamond-shaped trunk pattern
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Forms a low thicket with many sprouts from  underground stems. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Wildlife, Small mammals, including squirrels, use the acorns.  Provides significant food and cover for wildlife. The acorns are utilized by squirrels. An import , Habitat, Scrub, scrubby flatwoods, scrubby sandhill. , Did You Know?, Hurricane wind resistance Larval host  for Horace's duskywing (Erynnis horatius), red-banded hairstreak (Calycopis cecrops) and white-M hairstreak (P
  • Extremely versatile
  • Requires shade when young
  • Adequate moisture required
  • Deciduous
  • Forms an open canopy
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Range includes most of eastern and central north Ameria west to the prairie region and north into southeastern Canada.  The southern range limit is in , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Habitat, Rich woods, calcareous hammocks (in FL) but frequently in acid soils elsewhere. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Attracts butterflies and bees -- only butterflies and long-tongued bees can reach the nectar but other insects are attracted to the flo
  • Symmetrical shape
  • Magnificent
  • Easy/Carefree native
  • Forms an open canopy
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Specimen plant. Roadsides, parking lot edges, and medians. Smaller forms can make good foundation screens. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Considertions, Both suckers and seedlings will appear. , Wildlife, Birds eat the fruits. , Habitat, Tropical rockland hammock, coastal hammock. , Did You Know?, Aroma, fragrance, Interesting bark, Showy flowers, Showy fruits, Hurricane wind resistance Attracts bees and butterflies.
  • Attractive contrast between flowers and foliage
  • Damaged by citrus canker
  • Colorful fall foliage
  • Healthy edible fruit
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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
  • Prized scent, used in commercial perfumes
  • Width often exceeds height
  • Not a true pine
  • Rare, despite being a South Florida native
  • Pineapple-like showy fruits (female plants)
  • Underutilized
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Rare and listed as endangered. Please obtain this plant only from reputable native plant nurseries or friends -- do not harvest from the wild. Little , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Habitat, Slope forest. On calcareous soils. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Visited by small insects including bees but the specific pollinators are apparently not known.
  • Uniquely shaped with a muscular look
  • Showy reddish peeling bark
  • Produces aromatic flowers year-round
  • Available multi-stalked
  • Somewhat salt tolerant
  • Can be kept narrow
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While native in Florida, this species is invasive in other areas, especially the Pacific Northwest. Aquatic species with floating leaves and flowers. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, Could overrun small ponds or water features. , Habitat, Aquatic. Marshes, swamps in openings, still water. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Flies, bees, and beetles have been recorded.
  • Width often exceeds height
  • Prominent pale green crownshaft
  • Excellent hedge choice
  • Easy/Carefree
  • Ideal for smaller spaces
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Small specimen tree or an understory tree. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Wildlife, Small mammals and larger birds eat the berries. , Habitat, Dry hammocks, dry hardwood forests , Did You Know?, Fall color, Showy flowers The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract native Andrenid bees (Andrena spp.), Halictid bees (Halictus spp., Lasioglossu
  • Unique foliage and silhouette
  • Uncommon
  • Fruit eaten by birds
  • Wonderfully fragrant, carries a great distance
  • Moderately drought tolerant
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They are included here because they are valuable to insects and because they are lovely and good to have in a native garden if you are lucky enough to , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, Both species are hemi-parasitic (semi-parasitic) and difficult to grow without appropriate host plants. , Habitat, Open upland woods and disturbed edges. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Larval host for  black buckeye. Attracts insects.
  • Compact size
  • Does best in cooler areas of South Florida
  • Colorful new leafs
  • Tropical silhouette
  • Excellent small to medium hedge
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Any pruning should happen during the growing season, not when the plant is dormant. This small tree is listed as Endangered by the FDACS.  Please acqu , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Wildlife, Seeds are eaten and dispersed by birds and small mammals. , Habitat, Slope forest, upland mixed forest. Rare. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage Beetles are the primary pollinators of magnolia flowers. The flowers have a hardened carpel to avoid damage by the
  • Excellent choice for narrow spaces
  • Pleasant rounded shape
  • Moderately drought tolerant
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Because it's a legume it can grow in poor soils, but does better with added organic matter. Specimen shrub. , 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 , Habitat, Hammock edges, disturbed areas. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Larval host plant for cloudless sulphur (Phoebis sennae), sleepy orange (Eurema nicippi) and the introduced orange-barred sulphur (Phoe
  • Requires ample space and light
  • Adequate moisture required
  • Moderately drought tolerant
  • Majestic, sprawling canopy
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Very large leaves. This is a very rare species endemic to a few steep-sided ravines and bluffs in the Florida panhandle. This species is listed as End , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Wildlife, Fruits eaten and spread by birds and small mammals. , Habitat, Slope forest, upland mixed forest. Ravines. Andy's photo is of a planted specimen that appears to nearly lack the red/purple splotches at the bases , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage Beetles are the primary pollinators of magnolia flowers. The flowers have a hardened carpel to avoid damage by the
  • Tall and stately
  • Forms an open canopy
  • Requires protection from strong winds
  • Available single or multi-stalked
  • Attractive flowers, typically deep orange
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Wildflower garden. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, Sometimes the flower stalks are too tall and heavy to stand. Can be cut back mid-summer to reduce height. In a large garden, the twisted fallen stalks , Habitat, Mesic to wet flatwoods, seep slopes, bogs, savannas, ditches, cutthroat seeps, bogs, boggy swamps. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Attracts butterflies and bees.
  • Smaller stature
  • Classic Southern tree
  • Lovely dark green, shiny leaves
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Specimen plant, hedge plant. Large shrub to small tree. Large, showy, shiny leaves. , 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, Dioecious (separate male and female plants), so both male and female are required to get fruits. Mature fruits are not attractive (young fruits are ni , Wildlife, Fruit is eaten by birds and mammals.  Mockingbirds specifically are reported to enjoy the fruits. , Habitat, Coastal hammocks. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage, Hurricane wind resistance Larval host plant for tantalus sphinx (Aellopus tantalus) moths. Nectar plant for mangr
  • Dense, full crown
  • Prized scent, used in commercial perfumes
  • Mostly bare in the coldest months
  • Attractive blue-green to silver leaflets
  • Stately and uncommon
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Its acorn is large (about an inch long) and is nearly enclosed by its cup or receptacle--hence the name "overcup." Shade tree. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, Falling/fallen acorns can be an issue. , Wildlife, Acorns appreciated by squirrels, deer, turkey, and other wildlife Used by birds for resting and nesting Said (by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildlflower Cen , Habitat, Bottomland floodplains and inundated river levees, lake swamps, rarely on non-wetland portions of floodplains. , Did You Know?, Host plant for the White-M Hairstreak and Horace's Duskywing butterflies.
  • Dense, full crown
  • Long-lasting year-round blooms
  • Slow Growth
  • Readily pruned into attractive shapes
  • Elegant and compact
  • Colorful fall foliage