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Thelypteris spp.
These are generally moist site ferns though some (T. kunthii, T. ovata) grow in mesic uplands. Most are similar in appearance, and all will grow in a , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, The native range varies by species. Please use species appropriate to your area. , Wildlife, Cover for many ground-dwelling species. , Habitat, Hydric and mesic hammocks, shallow swamps and swamp edges, floodplains. , Did You Know?, Interesting foliage
  • Tiered branches
  • Very showy bright yellow flowers
  • Will not tolerate frost
  • Somewhat salt tolerant
  • Formal, old-world appearance
  • Elegant and stately
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Woodwardia areolata
This colony-forming fern is well-behaved in the landscape. Use as a groundcover in moist areas, rain gardens, or bioswales. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, It grows best in drier areas if there is some shade. In full sun, it requires reliable moisture. , Wildlife, Provides cover for small wildlife such as toads. , Habitat, Dome swamp, hydric hammock, seep slopes over limestone, hydric pine flatwoods. , Did You Know?, Interesting foliage
  • Edible, healthy fruit
  • Unusual deep green leaves with bronze underside
  • Excellent small hedge
  • Moderately slow growth
  • Elegant and stately
  • Compact size
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Pinus palustris
Highly tolerant of fire once established. Shade tree. Woodland tree. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, Huge pine cones litter the ground, so not a good tree for a lawn. , Wildlife, Known for its use by squirrels, especially fox squirrels. Birds also eat the nuts. Old trees in well managed (properly burned) natural sandhill and fl , Habitat, Sandhill, mesic to dry flatwoods. , Did You Know?, Hurricane wind resistance
  • Rapid growth
  • Dark green leaves
  • Colorful new leafs
  • Requires shade when young
  • Majestic, sprawling canopy
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Gordonia lasianthus
Makes a good specimen tree or a cluster of in wet areas along margins of lakes and ponds. This tree is columnar in form and can make a formal-looking , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, Sensitive to drying. Difficult to grow unless its moisture requirements are met. , Wildlife, Attracts hummingbirds. , Habitat, Moist-wet sites. Seepage swamps, bay swamps, edges of cypress domes, low flatwoods. This species is likely restricted to wetland edges both by its ne , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage Flowers attract a variety of insects including bees and flies.
  • Heavy feeder
  • Attractive contrast between flowers and foliage
  • Beloved in South Florida
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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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Chrysophyllum oliviforme
Specimen tree. Valued for its foliage which is shiny green on top and silky brown beneath. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Considertions, Slow growing. May be top-killed by frost in extreme northern parts of its range or when planted to the north of its natural range.  Does resprout from , Wildlife, Birds and other wildlife consume fruit. , Habitat, Tropical rockland hammocks. , Did You Know?, Interesting foliage, Hurricane wind resistance Insect pollinated.
  • Requires high humidity
  • Fruit attracts wildlife
  • Very showy clusters of flowers
  • Readily pruned into attractive shapes
  • Killed by citrus greening (HLB)
  • Recently classified invasive
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Liatris savannensis
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.
  • Salt tolerant
  • Very slow growth
  • Does best in warmer areas of South Florida
  • Sprawling and informal shrub
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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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Vaccinium arboreum
A profuse bloomer. Use for natural landscapes and wildlife habitat areas. Does well under a high pine canopy. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Wildlife, Fruit is consumed by birds and other wildlife. , Habitat, Dry sites. Xeric hammock, dryf mesic hardwoods, may be in upper edges of floodplains, overgrown flatwoods, coastal dunes, sandhill, scrubby sandhill. , Did You Know?, Interesting bark, Fall color, Showy flowers Larval host for striped hairstreak (Satyrium liparops). Attracts many pollinators; especially valuable to
  • Unusual deep green leaves with bronze underside
  • Relatively uncommon in South Florida
  • Very slow growth
  • Striking and exotic
Farkleberry
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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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Borrichia frutescens
Natural range is restricted to coastal areas. Native borders, foundation plant, especially in salty environments. Can be trimmed. , Tolerance, Tolerant of inundation with brackish water High. Can tolerate significant and ongoing amounts of salty wind and salt spray without injury. , Considertions, Suckers heavily forming large patches. , Wildlife, Birds and small mammals use the seeds. , Habitat, Salt marsh, tidal flats. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Nectar plant for great southern white (Ascia monuste), gulf fritillary (Agraulis vanillae), large orange sulphur (Phoebis agarithe), so
  • Will not tolerate frost
  • Relatively uncommon in South Florida
  • Very full crown
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Eugenia foetida
Used as a foundation or hedge plant. Large shrub to small tree. Can also be used as a specimen plant. , 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, Birds and other wildlife consume fruit. Provides good cover. , Habitat, Coastal hammocks, hammocks. , Did You Know?, Aroma, fragrance, Interesting foliage, Hurricane wind resistance Attracts pollinators.
  • Swollen, succulent branches
  • Produces aromatic flowers year-round
  • Somewhat salt tolerant
  • Tall and stately
  • Pyramidal crown
  • Bright red fruits
Boxleaf Stopper
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Carya aquatica
Specimen tree in wet settings. This is a good plant to grow in floodplains. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, Nut and leaf drop can be messy in a home landscape. , Wildlife, Ducks and other wildlife consume nuts. , Habitat, Swamps , Did You Know?, Interesting foliage Larval host for many moths including; luna moth (Actias luna), hickory leafroller moth (Argyrotaenia juglandana), royal walnut mo
  • Available multi-stalked
  • Elegant and stately
  • Extremely popular
  • Completely bare in winter
  • Attractive light to medium green crownshaft
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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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Neptunia pubescens
Not widely grown. Groundcover. , 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, River banks, coastal pinelands, edges of salt marshes. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage Larval host plant for ceraunus blue (Hemiargus ceraunus) butterflies. Attracts bees and butterflies.
  • Long-lasting year-round blooms
  • Will not tolerate frost
  • Prominent pale green crownshaft
Tropical Puff
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Coreopsis major
Leaves are whorled at intervals around the stem. Wildflower garden, butterfly garden or meadow. Stems spread but not aggressive. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Habitat, Sandhill. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Attracts insects, especially bees and butterflies.
  • Christmas tree shape
  • Unique, sweet, almond-like flavor
  • Decorative diamond-shaped trunk pattern
  • Ringed trunk
Greater Tickseed
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Helianthus heterophyllus
Moist wildflower meadows. , Tolerance, Unknown Unknown , Wildlife, Birds and small mammals eat the seeds. , Habitat, Moist to wet areas, marsh edges, seep slopes, savannas. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Primarily pollinated by bees.
  • Attractive glossy leaves
  • Dark green leaves
  • Wonderfully fragrant at night
  • Moderately drought tolerant
  • Unique and prized
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Ilex verticillata
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 ber , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Wildlife, Various bird species eat the fruit. , Habitat, Floodplains, creek swamps. , Did You Know?, Showy fruits Pollinated by bees.
  • Forms an open canopy
  • Attractive flowers, typically deep orange
  • Self-shedding fronds
  • Critically endangered
  • Elegant, dense canopy
  • Raised diamond-shaped trunk pattern
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Bacopa monnieri
Low ground-hugging ground cover in restoration areas, in ditches, and on wetland edges. , Tolerance, Tolerant of inundation with brackish water Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Considertions, It can become aggressive in the right conditions. , Habitat, Lakes edges, stream floodplains, marshes, swamps , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage Larval host plant for white peacock (Anartia jatrophae) butterflies. Insect pollinated. Attracts low-flying butter
  • Year-round blooms
  • Killed by citrus greening (HLB)
  • Tall and romantic
  • Wind tolerant
Herb-of-grace