Very easily grown. Flowers are fairly small but very numerous. Plant on a trellis or fence.

Red/orange fall color is excellent. Leaves have three separate shapes: ovoid, tri-lobed, or mitten-shaped (left or right). Mature trees tend to have fewer lobed leaves. Subject to laurel wilt disease.  Please be careful not to move firewood or dead wood around.  Best not planted in areas where laurel wilt is present. A relatively small tree that often forms thickets. Best used in informal settings.

Primarily useful for coastal restoration projects.

Rare. Listed by the FACS as Threatened.  Please acquire only from reputable dalers with appropriate permits. Screen or buffer plant. Specimen shrub.

Benefits from controlled burns. There are contradictions in herbarium databases, and reliable observations in counties where there are no herbarium specimens. Probably native in low abundance in dry (xeric) native grasslands and open pinelands throughout the state. Makes a colorful contribution to a native plant meadow. Becomes darker (more purple) after pollination. When flowering, the stem needs support from surrounding plants. It is primarily a fall bloomer.

The distribution mimics the distribution of steepheads, a stream/valley system that originates in a very steep-headed ravine where the water seeps out of the ground to form a stream, and the headwall gradually moves uphill due to the water exiting the ground undermining it. Screen or specimen plant in shady wet settings.

Use along streams or edges of retention areas. Can be a screen or specimen tree in moist areas. Blooms better in moderate to high light settings.

Edible, very hot fruits

Called elephant's foot because of the flat basal leaf formation. Meadows and wildflower gardens.

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 so far as we have seen recorded, not in Florida. Moist/wet wildflower garden.

Has considerable winter interest as its bark is smooth and red. Wet site hedge, wet site specimen plant especially if a clump is suitable.Rarely planted but considerable value especially in areas where most shrubs are bare during the winter.

This is one of Florida's more widespread spiderlilies. It is sometimes seen in roadside ditches. It is feasible to transplant this species if a plant rescue is needed. However note, a permit may be required. Retain it if in its natural setting. Plant in a moist setting.

Specimen shrub.  Thorniness makes it a good property edge hedge.