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 , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Habitat, Water. Ponds, lakes, quiet streams, swampa, ditches, canals. This species can be seen in the Lower Hillsborough Flood Detention Area in Hillsborough , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Pollinated by bees and flies.

Wind pollinated.  Dioecious.  According to Huegel (2010), the flowers attract insects. Plant tree in areas where fallen fruit will not be an issue. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, Fallen fruits are messy. , Wildlife, Fruits are very popular with birds and mammals and some reptiles (for example, Eastern box turtle ) , Habitat, Upper floodplains, hammocks, mesic forests.. , Did You Know?, Interesting foliage

Specimen tree. Valued for its foliage which is shiny green on top and silky brown beneath. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Considertions, Slow growing. May be top-killed by frost in extreme northern parts of its range or when planted to the north of its natural range.  Does resprout from , Wildlife, Birds and other wildlife consume fruit. , Habitat, Tropical rockland hammocks. , Did You Know?, Interesting foliage, Hurricane wind resistance Insect pollinated.

This tree is subject to Dutch elm disease which is not know to occur in Florida as of 2018 (IFAS, 2018). Medium shade tree for informal settings. Som , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, Susceptible the Dutch elm disease. , Wildlife, Seeds used by songbirds when little else is available. Used for nesting. , Habitat, Rich mesic to dry mesic forests, wooded bluffs, calcareous soils. , Did You Know?, Fall color, Interesting foliage Larval host for question mark butterfy (Polygonia interrogationis).

Used for shoreline protection. A major saltmarsh plant. Useful for erosion control. , Tolerance, Tolerant of frequent or regular inundation (usually areas with tidal inundation) High. Can tolerate significant and ongoing amounts of salty wind and , Wildlife, Birds and other animals eat the seeds. , Habitat, Salt marsh, tidal flats, beaches. , Did You Know?, Interesting foliage Larval food for Louisiana eyed silkmoth (Automeris louisiana)

May sucker and form small clones Foundation plantings, group or mass planting, multi-season accent, or specimen shrub. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Habitat, Sunny, wet eges of baygalls, shrub swamps, pitcherplant bogs; shrubby transition zones into wet flatwoods. , Did You Know?, Fall color, Showy flowers Attracts butterflies and other pollinators.

If grown in a freshwater environment, S. patens will grow much bigger. Use as a shoreling stabilization plant on edges of sand beaches and saltmarsh. , Tolerance, Tolerant of occasional/brief inundation such as can occur in storm surges. High. Can tolerate significant and ongoing amounts of salty wind and salt , Wildlife, Birds and other animals eat the seeds. , Habitat, Salt and brackish water of shores, farmlands, marshes, dunes. , Did You Know?, Interesting foliage, Hurricane wind resistance