New leaves are rusty-orange. Easy to care for. Can grow as a small tree or a shrub. Use where this small tree's interesting shape will be an asset. D , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Habitat, Scrub, scrubby flatwoods, overgrown sandhill. , Did You Know?, Interesting bark, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage Attracts bees. The following Hymenoptera families and species were observed visiting flowers of 

Found naturally in Florida in glades, which have marly soils, and in Alachua County, in shallow sands over marl deposits that cover the underlying lim , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Habitat, Upland mixed forest. Found in edges or understory and on roadsides. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Larval Host to the checkered-skipper (Pyrgus communis). Attracts bees.

Interesting buttressed trunks. Shade tree. Can be used in settings such as parking lot edges, street tree, etc. , Tolerance, Tolerant of inundation with brackish water Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Wildlife, Povides good cover.  Birds and small mammals are attracted to the fruit. , Habitat, Tropical hammocks. , Did You Know?, Interesting foliage, Hurricane wind resistance Attracts insect pollinators

These species are, in combination, found throughout Florida and from a cultivation perspective, are very similar.  In nature, O. stricta tends to be i , 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, Thorns! The thorns on this plant make weeding around it difficult. Best planted where no one will be walking adjacent to the plant. , Habitat, Coastal dunes, coastal grasslands. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Showy fruits, Interesting foliage, Thorns Nectar plant for Meske's skipper (Hesperia meskei) butterflies. Attracts a variety of insect

While somewhat overly aggressive, it can be controlled. The author allows it to climb palm trees but pulls them off the tree to limit their size every , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Considertions, This is a fast growing vine. It also layers and suckers. These characteristics can make it weedy. It climbs by means of aerial rootlets, which can dam , Wildlife, Very attractive to hummingbirds which are its primary pollinators. , Habitat, Dry-moist sites. Riverine forests, mesic & dry mesic hammock especially where disturbed. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Larval host for the plebeian sphinx (Paratraea plebeja) moth.

Listed as Threatened by the State of Florida.  Please acqure from reputable sources. Screen or hedge plant. Informal foundation shrub. Blooms profuse , 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 eat the fruits and the red&black arils. , Habitat, Tropical/coastal hammock edges, dunes, fields. Dry sites. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Larval host  for cassius blue (Leptotes cassius theonus), large orange sulphur (Phoebis agarithe), and Miami blue (Cyclargus thomasi be