There are three subspecies included in this description.  Together, they are found in all coastal counties of Florida and many inland ones.  As a gras , 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 , Wildlife, Muhly grass forms a low canopy that small animals can use for shelter and refuge. Small birds eat the seeds. , Habitat, Flatwoods, marshes, scrub. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Showy fruits, Interesting foliage

Good plant for pollinators, esp. in the back of the garden , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Habitat, Naturally grows in moist areas , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Butterfly nectar plant Attracts bees esp. bumble bees, ants (NC Native Plant Society)

Use as a tall groundcover or small shrub. , 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 , Considertions, Can become somewhat weedy. , Habitat, Hammocks, disturbed sites , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Nectar plant for Bahamian swallowtail (Heraclides andraemon), cassius blue (Leptotes cassius), Florida white (Appias drusilla), gray ha

Wildflower garden. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Habitat, Fatwoods, scrubby flatwoods, scrub, dunes, beach strands, sand ridges, fields and roadsides, sandhill. Pyrophytic. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Attracts butterflies and bees. Leafcutting bees from the family Megachilidae have been observed visiting the flowers at the Archbold Bi

Large clump-forming grass with uses as tall groundcover, specimen plant, or border plant. Nice along edges of ponds and water features. , 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, Wet prairie, edges of marshes, but mostly inland--rarely coastal. , Did You Know?, Interesting foliage

The blue tubular flower opens into 5 petal-like lobes with a white center. Several blossoms grow in a loose cluster. Narrow seed pods and dark yellow , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Wildlife, Ruby-throated hummingbirds are attracted to the nectar.  Avoided by mammalian herbivores. , Habitat, Flatwoods, chalky hills. , Did You Know?, Fall color, Showy flowers The flowers attract long-tongued insects such as carpenter bees, hummingbird moths, and butterflies.  Not known to be a lar

Leaves are 2-3 feet across. Listed as Endangered by the state of Florida. Accent or specimen tree in the landscape, also good along roadsides and med , 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, Used as nesting site and food source for birds. , Habitat, Tropical rockland hammock, coastal berm, maritime hammock. Calcareous soils including seasonally inundated flats and shallow depressions. , Did You Know?, Aroma, fragrance, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage, Hurricane wind resistance Larval host for monk skipper (Asbolis capucinus). Attracts bees.

This is listed as an ENDANGERED by the State of Florida An excellent accent shrub or small tree with open, spreading crown. Attractive fine textured, , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, This is a beautiful small tree that is rarely cultivated.. , Habitat, Rockland hammock edges , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Showy fruits Larval host for dina yellow (Eurema dina) and cassius blue (Leptotes cassius theonus) butterflies.

Some literature sources suggest that this species may have some salt tolerance as it apparently grows along the upper edges of some salt marshes, but , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Habitat, Moist-wet sites. Wet flatwoods, roadside ditches in former flatwoods. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers This plant is an insect magnet! It attracts insects including long-tongued bees, green metallic bees, bee flies, butterflies, and skipp

Use as a sprawling vine in wet areas. Works well as a stand-alone border along the edges of retention ponds. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, Its sprawling or climbing habit make it best for an informal or naturalized setting. , Habitat, Marshes, swamps, lake edges, river banks, coastal hammocks, floodplains. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage Flowers draw a myriad of native bees, including polyester, sweat, cuckoo, leafcutter, mining, bumble and chimney b

In the opinion of this author, this species has a weedy look.  Occurs throughout Florida but is more frequent in flatwoods pond settings and small flo , 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, An aggressive grower. Plant where that characteristic is appropriate. , Habitat, Riverine forests, flatwoods, beaches, fresh and brackish marshes, disturbed sites. , Did You Know?, Larval host for tawny edged skipper.

It is listed as threatened by the state of Florida.  Should be acquired only from properly licensed sources. Specimen plant. Slow-growing hedge or ba , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. High. Can tolerate significant and ongoing amounts of salty wind and salt spray without i , Considertions, Slow growing. , Wildlife, Used by birds for nesting and food. , Habitat, Pine rockland, rockland hammock, maritime hammock , Did You Know?, Interesting foliage, Hurricane wind resistance Larval host for monk skipper (Asbolis capucinus). Bees are attracted to the flowers (Khorsand 2009).

Shade tree.  Narrow crown is said to make it a good choice for avenues, narrow entryways, and areas between houses.  Can be used as a large container , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Wildlife, Fruits are used by birds and other wildlife. , Habitat, Coastal uplands , Did You Know?, Interesting bark, Showy fruits, Interesting foliage, Hurricane wind resistance Nectar plant for large orange sulphur (Phoebis agarithe), Schaus' swal

Despite the appearance of the county-based range map, the actual range is limited to the coastal areas. Wildflower garden. Groundcover. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. High. Can tolerate significant and ongoing amounts of salty wind and salt spray without i , Considertions, West and east coast beach sunflowers can hybridize, so it is best not to plant east coast beach sunflower withing the natural range of wet cost beach , Wildlife, Birds and small mammals eat the seeds. , Habitat, Beach dune. Disturbed areas near coast (ruderal) , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Primarily pollinated by bees.

Weeping branches. Specimen tree, hedge, or screen. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Wildlife, Attracts hummingbirds Fruits are harvested by a variety of birds Birds are attracted to insects which are attracted by the flowers , Habitat, Rockland hammock. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Showy fruits, Interesting foliage Attracts a variety of  bees and butterflies

Wildflower garden especially in sunny moist areas. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, Tall, can appear weedy especially when not in flower. , Wildlife, Attracts many pollinators, especially important for native bees. Birds and other wildlife consume fruit. Larval host plant for clymene moth (Haploa cl , Habitat, Moist to wet places often in partial shade, edges of streams and rivers. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers

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.

Wildflower garden, meadow. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Habitat, Sandhills, dry flatwoods. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Attracts generalist pollinators.

Borders, foundation plantings, underplantings for trees and larger shrubs. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, Foliage and nectar poisonous to humans and many mammals. , Habitat, Low mixed forest, streambanks, somewhat seepy areas near springs , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage Pollinated by bees.

Endemic to western peninsular Florida from Tampa south to Charlotte County. 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, Flatwoods. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Attracts butterflies and bees.

Flower color varies, which gives the plant a multi-hued array of flowers. Listed as Threatened in Florida Specimen plant where its showy, multi-color , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Wildlife, Good cover for birds, and birds and other wildlife enjoy the fruit. , Habitat, Pine rockland, rockland hammock. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Larval host for the Florida duskywing (Ephyriades brunneus). Nectar plant for a variety of butterflies.