Used for shoreline protection. A major saltmarsh plant. Useful for erosion control.

Small specimen plant in wet areas.  Does well in bog gardens and rain gardens or bioswales.

Mostly a curiosity in the shade garden.

Shoreline stabilizer or plant as cover in a pond. Can tolerate wide water level fluctuations. Frequently used in marsh restoration and wetland creation projects.

Benefits from controlled burns. There are contradictions in herbarium databases, and reliable observations in counties where there are no herbarium specimens. Probably native in low abundance in dry (xeric) native grasslands and open pinelands throughout the state. Makes a colorful contribution to a native plant meadow. Becomes darker (more purple) after pollination. When flowering, the stem needs support from surrounding plants. It is primarily a fall bloomer.

Wildflower garden or butterfly garden. A number of cultivars exist, but none are grown widely in Florida.

Used extensively in Indian cultures. Fruits are very high in Vitamin C. Casual settings, wetland edge or screen plant. Rain gardens and bioswales. Long bloom period.

Multi-stemmed. A single stem is a curiosity. A large multi-stemmed plant is a long-blooming wonder. Despite the common name, this species has sweet-smelling flowers. The range of this species extends from central Texas east and north into southern New England.  It is represented in Florida by a few isolated occurrences in northwest Florida. Specimen shrub

Rarely grown but of good potential for a dry native wildflower garden. Wildflower garden. When not flowering, the plant is a low-growing rosette of leaves that are white on the bottom. It flowers in the fall.

Depending on who you ask, there are two laurel oaks in Florida.  Q. laurifolia (swamp laurel oak) and Q. hemisphaerica (Darlington oak, sand laurel oak).  The taxonomists don't agree, and it appears that the two are distinctively different in north Florida but very much alike in southern and south Florida. Even if they are one species, this would be a ecotype that is more suited to drier settings. They are separated here because on is a wetland and floodplain plant, the other grows in dry uplands.  Some authors note that regardless of ID, they get planted without much regard for origin or drainage. Shade tree where fast growth is needed. Tardily deciduous.

Rare. Listed by the FACS as Threatened.  Please acquire only from reputable dalers with appropriate permits. Screen or buffer plant. Specimen shrub.

Its twisting shape makes it an interesting specimen tree.