This is a sedge. Most Rhynchospora species are wind pollinated. The white bracts of this species attract insects. Can use as a groundcover in moist sites. Good in an informal savanna setting, rain garden or bioswale.

The blue fruits on this tree are actually fleshy cones. Often used as a screen by planting in one or two fairly dense rows. Also useful as a background tree.  Can be a specimen tree.

This was one of the important grasses of the mid-western prairies. Survives occasional flooding and repeated burning. Plant in the rear of a wildflower garden. The flower/fuit stalk is quite showy with a golden plume (the stamens are yellow)in mid-fall. The stems and fruit retain a golden straw color through the fall. The remainder of the year, the grass is much lower (about 2 ft) and blue-green in color.

According to Kew Gardens, it is from Central America and probably Cuba and Florida.   After going through the photos and labels for specimens in the SIEnet database, the only occurrences in Florida that were convincingly in natural systems (as opposed to highly disturbed areas) were on shell mounds, dunes, and similar coastal areas.  Hence, the range map provided highlights the counties along the west coast that have these. Noted as invasive  and weedy on many herbarium specimen labels.  Where not native, we should think of it as invasive.

This forms clumps but does not form large clones, which means it will not take over a garden. Wildflower garden especially toward the back where height won't be an issue.

This naturally occurring hybrid has become a landscaping favorite. Ilex x attenuata is a natural hybrid originally found growing in the wild in Florida.    It is a cross between I. cassine (dahoon) and I. opaca (American holly).  To the best of our knowledge, this holly was documented once in 1924, in Walton County.  It may no longer occur in nature. Specimen plant. Plant where its shiny green foliage and bright red fruits can be seen.

If grown in a freshwater environment, S. patens will grow much bigger. Use as a shoreling stabilization plant on edges of sand beaches and saltmarsh.