Bahama ladder brake hybridizes with the non-native and invasive China brake (P. vittata) forming Delchamps' ladder brake (P. x delchampsii). Bahama ladder break is threatened with extinction due to this hybridization. Because of this, we do not recommend planting Bahama ladder break -- if we plant it and there is any China brake around, we exacerbate the problem. When you find this plant in nature, please enjoy it there. Listed as threatened by the state of Florida. Grows in clumps. Unusual in that it thrives in high light, but needs moist soil.

Meadow or wildflower garden.

Often planted in restoration and mitigation wetlands. Makes a good plant to border retention ponds. Rain gardens and bioswales.

Rarely grown in Florida. In wet places, it can be planted as a specimen plant for winter interest. When it loses its leaves in the fall, just the berries left on the stems create a striking display.

A profuse bloomer. Use for natural landscapes and wildlife habitat areas. Does well under a high pine canopy.

Moist wildflower garden, especially acidic gardens oriented toward sphagnum, pitcher plants, and similar bog species.

Its peeling bark and rounded lobes set it apart from most other oaks. Shade tree best suited to settings where its large size can be appreciated. Grown in open settings, it can have a wide spread. Grown in a forested setting it will have a narrower crown.

Although drought-tolerant, this shrub/small tree may benefit from a few deep, thorough soakings during extremely dry periods. When young, it tends to be multi-trunked, so if a tree form is desired, pruning is required. Very briefly deciduous. Although the range extends further north, it is best used in landscaping where temperatures do not drop below 20 degrees F. Good for barrier shrub and as wildlife thicket, also nice as specimen.

Not widely grown. Groundcover.

Natural range is restricted to coastal areas. Native borders, foundation plant, especially in salty environments. Can be trimmed.

Blooms all year. Recruits readily in the garden from seed. Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations. Also butterfly gardens.

In central Florida, lanceleaf has a relatively short blooming period compared to Leavenworth's tickseed - wrapping things up by mid-summer, whereas C. Leavenworthii is still flowering come Fall. Coreopsis is the state wildflower. Wildflower beds, butterfly gardens or meadows.

Rarely grown.  This tree occurs predominantly in the coastal plain (withoutliers) from eastern Alabama north to southern New Jersey. Shade tree for moist sites. Forest tree.

Often in water. Use in water gardens or along the shallow edges of ponds.

This subspecies has a broad distribution that extends west into Texas and north into northern New England.  It is found broadly but sporatically in Florida.  Our map shows where herbarium specimens have been submitted, but it should be appropriate to plant this plant almost anywhere in the northern 2/3 of the state.   To avoid inbreeding, do not plant this subspecies in a common garden with either the east- or west-coast dune sunflower. Beach-front gardens.  Wildflower gardens. Groundcover.

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, thin leaves and long, hanging spikes of flowers. Dioecious with male and female flowers on separate plants.

Compound leaf has "wings" of tissue along the leaf-stem (rachis). This is one of the few shrubs that produces brilliant red fall color in much of Florida.

Endemic to western peninsular Florida from Tampa south to Charlotte County. Wildflower garden.

Small specimen tree or large shrub. Background edge and screen plantings.

Requires a reliable cold period to persist. In most of Florida it can be treated as an annual in gardens. Listed as Endangered by the State of Florida.  While this is a common garden plant in the north, its range barely reaches Florida, and it is rare and exists only in a highly specific habitate in the wild. Works well in almost any garden with mixed wildflower species. North of Florida, this species is sometimes planted as single-species mass plantings.

Small tree appropriate to moist areas.