May be semi-parasitic on the roots of other plants which makes it challenging to grow. Best planted near a potential host such as an oak. May die back in winter in northern parts of its range, Hedge plant, wildlife plant. Large shrub which can be trained as a tree in the right conditions. Crown is narrow and irregular and the trunks and branches are crooked or twisting.

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

Nice blog article by Florida Wildflower Foundation. Background plant somewhere between a shrub and vine in character.

Retain in the landscape for coastal protection where present. Used for dune restoration.

This colony-forming fern is well-behaved in the landscape. Use as a groundcover in moist areas, rain gardens, or bioswales.

The range of this species includes much of eastern North America up into southern Canada.  Its occurrence in Florida is sparse with appropriate substrate likely being the primary determining factor. Treasure if you have it. Good for rock gardens and shade gardens as an understory plant.

Wildflower garden or meadow..

Listed as Threatened in Florida.  Please acquire only from appropriately licensed sources. Specimen tree or understory tree.

The scientific name Befaria racemosa was apparently an early transcription error. The genus is named after an 18th century Spanish botanist by the name of Bejar. Documented bees include Agapostemon splendens, Augochlorella aurata, A. gratiosa, Augochloropsis sumptuosa, Anthidiellum perplexum, Anthidium maculifrons, Megachile brevis pseudobrevis, M. mendica, M. petulans, Bombus impatiens and B. pennsylvanicus (Deyrup et al. 2002). Naturalistic settings. Conserve in residual natural settings if possible.

Restoration proects and casual moist-site plantings.

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

The range includes all of peninsular Florida and the southern parts of Georgia, and Alabama. Best used as a wildflower as it has a relatively short lifespan.

Background shrub.

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.

This is a rare plant. Please acquire from a reputable nursery. It is close kin to an invasive exotic (S. frutescens)from Australia -- be sure you are planting the native. If present in the landscape, retain. Use as a shrub in coastal areas where it can make a nice screen, form a hedge, or be a foundation plant. Also appropriate for dune stabilization.

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.

Endemic to the sand ridges of  central and northern peninsular Florida. Forms a thicket with many sprouts from  underground stems.