Wild cotton is a rare plant; it needs protection against missuses and protection against removal from natural populations. Use as a short-lived "shru , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Considertions, It is not legal to plant this plant, but the reasons are very dated. A Florida law was passed in the early 1900s banning the growing of wild cottons, , Habitat, Dry sites. Tropical hammock, coastal berm, shell mound. Disturbed area. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Showy fruits Larval host plant for gray hairstreak (Strymon melinus) butterflies. Flowers attract bees, flies, thrips, grass hoppers,

Wildflower garden. Also useful as a cut flower. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, Poisonous foliage. , Wildlife, Avoided by mammalian herbivores. , Habitat, Moist hammocks, ruderal. , Did You Know?, Fall color, Showy flowers he flowers attract long-tongued insects such as carpenter bees, hummingbird moths, and butterflies. Ruby-throated hummingbi

Range likely includes all of Florida.  It is sporadic in northern Florida. Shade tree or specimen tree. Leaves may be evergreen in south Florida. Can , 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, Seeds are apparently poisonous. , Wildlife, Used by wildlife for cover, food. , Habitat, Hammocks, coastal scrub, shell mounds, along streams and on limestone uplands. , Did You Know?, Interesting foliage Flowers attract bees.

High tolerance for salt spray (IFAS). Groundcover in dry, sunny settings.  Can also make a good soil stabilizer. , 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 , Wildlife, Fruits are eaten by small mammals and gopher tortoises. , Habitat, Scrub, scrubby flatwoods, sandhill, dry secondary woods. Pine rocklands. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Butterflies including buckeyes, rattlebox moths, wasps, ants and bees use the flowers.  Bees are the primary pollinators. Documented be

Moist wildflower garden. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Habitat, Wet prairie, wet pine flatwoods, fresh to brackish marshes, bogs, ditches, swamps. Especially in areas where limestone is close to the surface. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Attracts many pollinators; is especially important for native bees.

It can be difficult to maintain habitat for this plant.  Keeping the competition down seems to be critical (mow, burn, etc.). We know of no Florida nu , Tolerance , Considertions, foliage and seeds have toxic properties, primarily due to the lupine alkaloids , Habitat, Open, sandy woods. Adapted to fire. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Larval host for several butterflies. Attracts bees including bumblebees.

This is a Florida endemic. Screen plant esp. for sunny, dry sites. Specimen plant where its shiny foliage will be appreciated. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, Slow growing. , Wildlife, Larger birds and small mammals eat the fruit. , Habitat, Dry sites. Scrub, scrubby sandhill. , Did You Know?, Aroma, fragrance, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage Bees and other pollinators.