This species is almost endemic to Florida.  Its range overlaps into southern Georgia and southeastern Alabama. The range includes all of Florida thoug , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Wildlife, Said by Bok Tower to sometimes attract hummingbirds. Seeds likely dispersed by wind. , Habitat, Dry flatwoods, sandhill, ruderal areas. Well-drained upland habitats , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Larval host to Baltimore checkerspot (Euphydryas phaeton) Attracts bees.

Retain if present. This and other members of the genus are hemiparasites and not easy to grow unless you happen to also have appropriate hosts present , Tolerance, Tolerant of occasional/brief inundation such as can occur in storm surges. Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Habitat, Moist flatwoods. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Larval host and nectar source for the Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia). Attracts native bees.

Specimen tree. Woodlands. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Wildlife, Birds, squirrels and other animals eat the seeds. , Habitat, Dry sites. Mixed forest. Often invades abandoned fields.

The showy part of this plant is the bracts which are pink to lavender. Flowers are actually small, whitish to yellowish, with purple spots. Wildflowe , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Considertions, Can get rangy and fall over, but trimming in early summer will keep it bushier. , Wildlife, Attracts hummingbirds. , Habitat, Dry disturbed areas, old fields, and upper sand dunes. , Did You Know?, Aroma, fragrance, Showy flowers Attracts many bees, butterflies, and moths.

Use in a wildflower garden. Good for roadside wilflower plantings. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Wildlife, Seeds eaten by small birds. , Habitat, Mostly ruderal. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Attracts bumble bees, butterflies Larval host for the silvery checkerspot, found only in extreme north Florida.

Rarely grown, likely since it is a poisonous annual with prickles.  Invasive in parts of Asia, Africa, and Australia. This is a personal favorite of o , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, Prickles can be an issue in some gardens. All parts of this plant are extremely toxic. , Habitat, Rurderal areas. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage Attracts pollinators including bees, flies, and beetles.