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Rudbeckia spp.
Multiple species are native to Florida.  Most are attractive and many are easy to grow.  This is a catch-all for species not listed individually.  Ple , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Wildlife, Small seed-eating birds pick out the seeds from the mature flower heads. , Habitat, Vary by species. Mostly sandhills, bogs, roadsides, ruderal. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Attract butterflies, bees and wasps.
  • Long emerald crownshaft
  • Can be grown indoors
  • Somewhat drought tolerant
  • Colorful new leafs
  • No longer recommended
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Quercus austrina
Relatively small for an oak. Use as specimen tree or in a grove. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Wildlife, Birds, squirrels, racoons, deer and other wildlife eat the seeds. , Habitat, Well drained bottomlands and bluffs. , Did You Know?, Larval host for brown duskywing butterfly (Erynnis horatius), and gray hairstreak (Strymon melinus), and white-M hairstreak (Parrhasius m-album).
  • Damaged by citrus canker
  • Uncommon edible fruit
  • Rapid growth
  • Unique foliage and silhouette
  • Very fast growth rate
Bastard White Oak
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Saururus cernuus
Both the common and scientific genus names refer to the lizard-like shape of the drooping flower head. This is a wetland plant. It can form dense pat , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Wildlife, Eaten by wood ducks and other foraging birds. , Habitat, Shallow water of streams, swamps, wet forests, ditches. , Did You Know?, Aroma, fragrance, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage Nectar plant for hairstreaks and other insects esp. bees and flies, but apparently mostly wind p
  • Fragrant in the evening
  • Tall and romantic
  • Pyramidal crown
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Spartina bakeri
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
  • Magnificent
  • Adequate moisture required
  • Requires protection from strong winds
  • Beloved in South Florida
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Lygodesmia aphylla
The short lived bloom opens before sunrise and is most beautiful from just before dawn till about mid-morning when it fully opens. By night fall it wi , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Habitat, Dry sandy soils, flatwoods, pine barrens, sandhill, scrub, and disturbed areas , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Attract a wide variety of insect pollinators.  One documented bee pollinator is Augochlorella aurata (Deyrup et al. 2002).
  • Very showy bright yellow flowers
  • Attractive contrast between flowers and foliage
  • Wonderfully fragrant at night
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Diospyros virginiana
Persimmon wood is very hard and nearly black--it's in the ebony family. Typically grown for its fruit. Plant in full sun. Also useful as an early suc , 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, Tent caterpillars can be an aesthetic issue and fruit drop can be messy. Persimmons are dioecious, so if you wish to have fruit, make sure that you ha , Wildlife, Fruits are used by a broad array of small mammals and some birds. , Habitat, Dry-moist-wet sites. Disturbed sites, wetland edges, old fields, sandhill. , Did You Know?, Fall color, Showy fruits, Hurricane wind resistance Larval host for royal walnut moth (Citheronia regalis), pecan carpenterworm moth (Cossula magnifi
  • Very showy clusters of red flowers
  • Tall and romantic
  • Formal appearance
  • Dense, full crown
  • Wonderfully fragrant
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Calamintha coccinea
Short lived. Rarely grown as it is difficult to establish. Retain it in the landscape if is is occurring naturally. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, Difficult to establish and requires highly specific site conditions. , Wildlife, Attracts hummingbirds. , Habitat, Scrub, in open areas. Sandhills, coastal hammocks. Mostly near the coast. , Did You Know?, Aroma, fragrance, Showy flowers Attracts  bees, and butterflies.
  • Attractive contrast between flowers and foliage
  • Can be kept narrow
  • Very showy clusters of flowers
  • Can be grown indoors
  • Symmetrical shape
Red Basil, Scarlet Calamint
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Helianthus agrestis
This is Florida's only native annual sunflower.  The Bradford County location is near both a major road and a railroad and may be a waif. Moist wildf , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Wildlife, Birds and small mammals eat the seeds. , Habitat, Pinelands, savannas, ruderal. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Primarily pollinated by bees. The goldenrod soldier beetle (a.k.a. leatherwing beetle (Chauliognathus pensylvanicus) is a goldenrod pol
  • Showy reddish peeling bark
  • Very showy clusters of red flowers
  • Grows tall, but not massive
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Crinum americanum
This is a wetland plant, but it will do well once established in a moist garden setting. Moist wildflower gardens. Easily grown along streams. , Tolerance, Tolerant of inundation with brackish water Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Habitat, Riverine swamps, riverine marshes, open wet prairies. , Did You Know?, Aroma, fragrance, Showy flowers Pollinated by sphinx moths. Larval host for Spanish moth a.k.a. convict caterpillar (Xanthopastis timais)
  • Easily trimmed for smaller spaces
  • Elegant
  • Adequate fertalization required
  • Tall and romantic
  • Can be trimmed into manicured shapes
Swamp Lily
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Persea palustris
This species and other members of the Lauraceae are being attacked by a serious, fatal disease. Do not plant this plant unless you are absolutely sure , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Considertions, Do not move deadwood. It will spread the disease. , Wildlife, Seed eaten and dispersed by birds. , Habitat, Shallow areas in swamps, hydric savannas, seep slopes including cutthroat seeps, wet flatwoods, sloughs. , Did You Know?, Aroma, fragrance Larval host plant for palamedes swallowtail (Papilio palamedes) and spicebush swallowtail (Papilio troilus) butterflies. Attracts be
  • Unusually shaped, asymmetrical tree
  • Symmetrical shape
  • Not a true pine
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Lupinus diffusus
Given that this is short-lived (biennial) and difficult to transplant or grow from seed, this is perhaps best encouraged in places where it grows natu , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, Hard to establish. Biennial, though may reseed. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Showy fruits, Interesting foliage Larval host for  frosted elfin (Callophyris irus) butterfly, which is listed as  Endangered in Flori
  • Very full crown
  • Attractive symmetrical appearance
  • Majestic and graceful
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Telmatoblechnum serrulatum
This is one of the most common ferns in central-southern Florida and potentially one of the most beautiful. Ground cover for moist, shady sites. Also , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, Will spread unless contained by physical or environmental limits. Periodic removal of old fronds is recommended. , Habitat, Marshes, swamps , Did You Know?, Interesting foliage
  • Unique swollen blue-green to silver trunk
  • Requires high humidity
  • Tropical silhouette
  • Unique foliage
  • Beautiful purple-brown crownshaft
  • Moderately drought tolerant
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Vernonia gigantea
The genus name honors the English botanist William Vernon, who did fieldwork in North America. Back of a moist wildflower garden. Can also use on the , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Habitat, Exposed sand and gravel bars of streams during low water, stream banks, hydric to wet mesic pine flatwoods. Rich soils. Ruderal. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Nectar attracts butterflies and native beens.  Larval host for spring azure butterfly.
  • Colorful new leafs
  • Rare, despite being a South Florida native
  • Beautiful rounded dense canopy
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Magnolia virginiana
The silvery undersides of the leaves are striking. Erroneously listed as a host for palamedes swallowtail butterflies. Palamedes swallowtails only fee , Tolerance, Tolerant of inundation with brackish water Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Wildlife, Seeds are eaten by woodpeckers, kingbirds, red-eyed vireos, mockingbirds, robins, thrushes, crows, cardinals, squirrels, mice among others. Deer brows , Habitat, Bay swamp, forested seep slopes, floodplains of small streams, low flatwoods where fire has been excluded. , Did You Know?, Aroma, fragrance, Showy flowers, Showy fruits, Interesting foliage, Hurricane wind resistance Larval host plant for Eastern tiger swallowtail (Pterou
  • Briefly bare for about a month in the winter
  • Attractive silver-gray foliage
  • Heavy feeder
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Helianthus debilis subsp. vestitus
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.
  • Fruit eaten by birds
  • Extremely popular
  • Swollen, succulent branches
  • Raised diamond-shaped trunk pattern
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Bidens laevis
Depending on the weather, this may be either an annual or perennial in Florida. Informal gardens in wet sites. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, The fruits stick to pant legs and animal fur leading to moniker beggarticks. Generally no an issue in the wetland sites where this will grow. , Habitat, Swamps, river edget , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Attracts native bees and butterflies
  • Tall and romantic
  • Fruit attracts wildlife
  • Striking symmetrical appearance
  • Unique and prized
  • Beloved in South Florida
  • Grows tall, but not massive
Smooth Beggarticks
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Morinda royoc
Informal landscapes. Its growth form is to be scrambling in a thicket or climbing as a sprawlingg vine. Habitat restoration. , 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 , Did You Know?, Showy fruits Butterfly nectar source.
  • Very full crown
  • Majestic, sprawling canopy
  • Striking silhouette
  • Colorful older leaves
Indian Mulberry
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Lantana depressa var. depressa
This is a rare South Florida native that has entered the nursery trade. A major concern is hybridization with Lantana strigocamara, a multicolored inv , 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, Birds eat the fruits and spread the seeds. , Habitat, Pine rockland. On limestone. Vacant lots. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers May be pollinated by butterflies during the day and by moths at night (Osorio 2012).  Also visited by bees.
  • Forms an open canopy
  • Lovely dark green, shiny leaves
  • Attractive mottled bark
  • Narrow canopy
  • Beautiful rounded dense canopy
  • Wonderfully fragrant, carries a great distance
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Hypericum tetrapetalum
Moist wildflower garden. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Wildlife, Foliage and seeds are food source for birds and mammals. , Habitat, Flatwoods, sandhill, ruderal areas. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Attracts pollinators, especially bees. Documented bees include Augochlorella aurata, Dialictzcs coreopsis and D. lniniatulus (Deyrup et
  • Produces aromatic flowers year-round
  • Prominant olive crownshaft, slightly buldging
  • Smaller stature
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Zanthoxylum clava-herculis
Wood is quite soft and weak.  This author had one break in a storm.  It did however resprout from low on the trunk and the sprout is now about 15 ft t , 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, Quite thorny. , Wildlife, Birds and other wildlife eat the fruit. , Habitat, Hammocks, wet woods, dunes, shell middens. , Did You Know?, Interesting bark, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage, Thorns Larval host for giant swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes).
  • Attracts butterflies and bees
  • Showy display of fruit
  • Beautiful sweeping fronds with drooping leaflets
  • Killed by citrus greening (HLB)
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Colubrina arborescens
Listed as endangered in Florida. Please acquire from appropriate sources. Large tree or small shrub. Buffer planting or specimen tree. , 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. Can become a weed. , Wildlife, Birds and other small wildlife consume seed. , Habitat, Rockland hammocks and understory of pine rocklands. , Did You Know?, Interesting foliage Pollinated by bees (http://tropical.theferns.info/).
  • Native
  • Narrow canopy
  • Abundance of orange-red flowers in summer
  • Lush, dense shade tree
Coffee Colubrina