This is one of Florida's most showy and most under-appreciated wildflowers. Look for it along disturbed roadsides in mid-late winter and early spring. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, Sharp thorn-like prickles cover most of the plant. Highly toxic. , Habitat, Ruderal areas. Common on dry roadsides. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Thorns Attracts pollinators including bees, flies, and beetles.  Documented bee species include  Apis mellifera (honeybee), Dialictus

Invasive in many parts of the world.  It is either a blessing or a pest in Florida depending on where it is. Good addition to a freedom lawn. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, Will spread. , Habitat, Disturbed areas , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Nectar attracts bees, butterflies and flies.

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 , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , 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 , Wildlife, Birds, squirrels and other animals eat the fruit. , Habitat, Woodland edges, fencerows, open woods. Also cultivated. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Showy fruits Flowers attract bees.  Documented bee visitors include Dialictus placideizsis, Hylaeus conflzeizs, Euylaezcs pectoralis a

Mass planting or specimen plant in moist areas. Best for informal gardens. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Wildlife, Birds and other wildlife consume fruit. , Habitat, Moist hammocks, flatwoods, stream banks. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Attracts butterflies. Attracts many pollinators including bees. Larval host plant for clymene moth (Haploa clymene).

Wildflower or butterfly garden. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Habitat, Wet flatwoods, wet prairie, edges of cypress swamps, floodplain forest, ditches. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Attracts many butterflies and pollinators.