The genus name honors the English botanist William Vernon, who did fieldwork in North America. Moist wildflower garden. Also useful to naturalize alo , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Habitat, Hydric to moist savannas, openings along streams, wet pastures, floodplains, bluffs, bay swamps. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Nectar attracts native bees and butterflies.  Larval host for Spring azure.

Fruits are magenta. There is a white-fruited/white-flowered variety, uncommonly found naturally in Florida, that is sold occasionally. Specimen plant , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Considertions, Cut back in winter to encourage blooming and good form. , Wildlife, Many bird species consume the fruit. including catbirds, mockinbirds, and robins. , Habitat, Dry mesic hardwoods, xeric hammock, scrubby flatwoods, flatwoods, disturbed dry-moist woods. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Showy fruits, Hurricane wind resistance Larval host for for spring azure butterflies and snowberry clearwing moths. Attracts various p

Groundcover. Foliage is low and neat even during periods when there are no flowers (flowers in mid-spring). Plant not visible in winter. Can be natura , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Habitat, Cutthroat seeps, moist roadsides, hammocks, bogs, river banks. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Beneficial sweat bees, bumble bees, bee flies, and syrphid flies are attracted to nectar and pollen.

Designated as the Florida State Tree.  Trees on coastal islands in the Big Bend area are failing to reproduce due to sea level rise, and islands in th , 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 , Considertions, Fronds and flower stalks fall. Seeds sprout readily and can require control. In southern part of the state, strangler figs can sprout in the boots and , Wildlife, Seeds used by small mammals such as raccoons. Used by birds for nesting. Dead palm fronds -- roosting habitat for yellow bats.  Their yellowish color , Habitat, Flatwoods, moist hammocks, swamps, river floodplains, ruderal , Did You Know?, Interesting bark, Interesting foliage, Hurricane wind resistance Larval host plant for Monk Skipper (Asbolis capucinus) butterfly. Pollinated by bees

Emerald ash borer is a problem in the northeast, and if it reaches Florida, it would likely be lethal to this species. Specimen tree where a small dr , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, Flowers and leaves emerge late in the spring and leaves fall early in the fall. When not blooming, it's not outstanding. , Wildlife, Fruits are eaten by birds and small mammals. , Habitat, Moist hammocks, but adaptable to many situations. , Did You Know?, Aroma, fragrance, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage Larval host for rustic sphinx (Manduca rustica), waved sphinx (Ceratomia undulosa), and laurel s

Wildflower garden. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Habitat, Fatwoods, scrubby flatwoods, scrub, dunes, beach strands, sand ridges, fields and roadsides, sandhill. Pyrophytic. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Attracts butterflies and bees. Leafcutting bees from the family Megachilidae have been observed visiting the flowers at the Archbold Bi

Can be distinguished from non-native agave by its bare basal trunk. Endemic to southern peninsular Florida from the Monroe County Keys north along the , Tolerance, Tolerant of frequent or regular inundation (usually areas with tidal inundation) High. Can tolerate significant and ongoing amounts of salty wind and , Considertions, Sharp pointed leaves and sap that can be irritating to the skin. Only blooms once. , Habitat, Coastal hammocks, shell middens, dry coastal uplands. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage Larval host for Yucca Giant Skipper (Megathymus yuccae) and Cofaqui Giant Skipper (Megathymus cofaqui).  Pollinate

This plant is easy to grow. Weak wood. Hedge plant, specimen plant, woodland plant. Plant where the silky brown/gold undersides of the foliage will b , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Considertions, Plant where it will have space. While many specimens in natural scrub settings are slow growing, this plant can be a robust growing in the landscape. , Wildlife, Birds and other animals eat the fruit. , Habitat, Sandhill, scrub. , Did You Know?, Interesting foliage, Thorns Nectar plant for butterflies. Attracts bees and flies.  A pollinator magnate. Watching insects swarm over my tough bully

The shiny green leaves, gently fragrant flowers and glossy berries make this a charming plant. Can occasionally be subject to defoliation by the moth , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Wildlife, Berries eaten by many species of bids and other wildlife. , Habitat, Dry sites. Pinelands, maritime and sub-tropical or tropical hammocks , Did You Know?, Aroma, fragrance, Showy flowers, Showy fruits, Hurricane wind resistance Larval host for fiddlewood leafroller moth (Epicorsia oedipodalis) (Institut

Works well to control erosion (wind and water) on dunes. Hedge or specimen plant in coastal areas. , Tolerance, Tolerant of occasional/brief inundation such as can occur in storm surges. High. Can tolerate significant and ongoing amounts of salty wind and salt , Habitat, Dunes, beaches, coastal scrub, sandy thickets. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage, Hurricane wind resistance Host plant for Martial Scrub Hairstreak (Strymon martialis) and Mallow Scrub Hairstreak

The range of this plant appears to encompass most of Florida with actual occurrances having been found in streams with appropriate water chemistry (ap , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Habitat, Aquatic. Quiet pools in spring-run streams, spring-fed lakes and ponds, still water. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Everything from flies, to beetles, and various sorts of bees have been recorded on water lilies (In Defense of Plants blog).  Given the

Very similar in appearance to several non-natives which are invasive pests, esp. N. cordifolia. If there are spherical tubers amongst the roots, it's , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, This can be aggressive. Be careful to plant it where you can contain it. , Habitat, Wet-dry sites. Swamps, hammocks, yards. , Did You Know?, Interesting foliage