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Zephyranthes simpsonii
Flowers tend to appear in spring or after a significant rainfall. Otherwise inconspicuous. Small wildflower or plant in with other low groundcovers. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Habitat, Dome swamp, wet flatwoods, wet prairie. In ditches, wet pastures, roadsides. Often in burned areas. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Attracts pollinators.
  • Often draped with Spanish moss
  • Magnificent
  • Stunning and colorful while in bloom
  • Delicious edible fruit
  • Prolific fruiter
  • Does best with periodic fertalization
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Dyschoriste humistrata
Wildflower garden, groundcover , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Habitat, Forested areas around wetlands , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Larval host for common buckeye (Junonia coenia).
  • Dense canopy
  • Falls over easily, may require staking
  • Majestic
  • Colorful new leafs
  • Fruit eaten by birds
  • Self-shedding fronds
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Eriogonum tomentosum
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 l , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Habitat, Sandhill, scrubby sandhill, disturbed sandhill, xeric roadsides in areas of sandhill soils. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Attracts bees and other pollinators.  Does not attract many butterflies.
  • Sprawling and informal shrub
  • Arched, recurving fronds
  • Requires occassional fertalization
  • Thick branching into attractive silouttes
  • Highly salt tolerant
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Clethra alnifolia
The herbarium specimen from Polk County almost certainly has a wrong location.  Lithia is in Hillsborough County and the most likely translation of a , 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 , Wildlife, Attracts hummingbirds. Birds and other small wildlife consume the seed (https://wildflower.org) , Habitat, Moist-wet areas, acid soils. Wet flatwoods, savannas, swamps, stream banks, bogs, other wet areas. , Did You Know?, Aroma, fragrance, Showy flowers Attracts butterflies and bees which have evolved to take advantage of narrow, tubular flowers.
  • Lovely dark green, shiny leaves
  • Attractive contrast between flowers and foliage
  • Magnificent showy flowers in summer
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Viburnum obovatum
The name Walter's viburnum honors Thomas Walter (1740-89), English-born planter of South Carolina, who described this species in his Flora Caroliniana , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Wildlife, Birds and other wildlife consume the fruit. , Habitat, Riverine forests, swamp borders, hydric hammocks. Also cultivated as an ornamental. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Showy fruits, Hurricane wind resistance Larval host for the spring azure butterfly (Celastrina ladon). Both native and non-native vibu
  • Unusual stilt roots
  • Slender profile
  • Requires protection from strong winds
  • Often hosts orchids, ferns and bromiliads
  • Excellent hedge choice
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Funastrum clausum
Trellis or fence , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, This is an extremely aggressive vine. It can grow into mats that cover shrubs and small trees. , Habitat, Moist sites such as edges of wetlands. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Larval host for monarch (Danaus plexippus), queen (Danaus gilippus), and soldier (Danaus eresimu) butterflies.  Apparently not a monarc
  • Majestic, sprawling canopy
  • Prominent pale green or blue-gray crownshaft
  • Very showy bright yellow flowers
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Gaylussacia mosieri
Rarely gown likely because of its need for moist sites. Shrub in an informal, moist garden and would make a good backdrop for a bog garden, or a good , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Wildlife, Fruits eaten by a variety of birds and mammals. , Habitat, Bogs, wet savannas, edges of bayheads, mesic to hydric flatwoods. , Did You Know?, Fall color, Showy flowers Pollinated by native bees.
  • Excellent edible fruit
  • Stunning long emerald crownshaft
  • Not a true jasmine
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Scirpus cyperinus
Background plant in a wetland garden. Wetland creation and restoration projects. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Moderate. Tolerant of salty wind and may get some salt spray. Exposure to salt spray wo , Wildlife, Cover for water birds and other wildlife. Birds eat the seeds. , Habitat, Wet prairie, river floodplain. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Showy fruits, Interesting foliage
  • Very full crown
  • Stunning colorful foliage
  • Rapid growth
  • Compact size
  • Highly wind tolerant
  • Beautiful sweeping fronds with drooping leaflets
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Physalis walteri
Based on BONAP maps and the ISB website, the range of Physalis walteri likely includes the entire peninsula of Florida but becomes restricted to areas , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Moderate. Tolerant of salty wind and may get some salt spray. Exposure to salt spray wo , Wildlife, Fruit is used by generalists. , Habitat, Open sandy areas. Often coastal. , Did You Know?, Attracts bees.
  • Highly salt tolerant
  • Unique and prized
  • Underutilized
  • Available multi-stalked
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Ptelea trifoliata
Understory tree, use as a background plant or screen. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Habitat, Floodplains, rich woodlands, upland mixed forest. , Did You Know?, Fall color, Showy fruits Larval host for the giant swallowtail. Carrion flies pollinate the flowers.
  • Very showy bright yellow flowers
  • Slender trunk, 4" in diameter
  • Relatively uncommon in South Florida
  • Native
Common Hoptree
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Argemone mexicana
This is one of Florida's most showy and most under-appreciated wildflowers. Look for it along disturbed roadsides in mid-late winter and early spring. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, Sharp thorn-like prickles cover most of the plant. Highly toxic. , Habitat, Ruderal areas. Common on dry roadsides. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Thorns Attracts pollinators including bees, flies, and beetles.  Documented bee species include  Apis mellifera (honeybee), Dialictus
  • Lovely dark green, shiny leaves
  • Prominant gray-olive crownshaft
  • Very showy clusters of red flowers
  • Thrives only briefly, about 1 year
  • Fruit eaten by birds
  • Fragrant in the evening
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Cornus foemina
Use along streams or edges of retention areas. Can be a screen or specimen tree in moist areas. Blooms better in moderate to high light settings. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Wildlife, Birds and small mammals consume the fruit. , Habitat, Riverine swamps, bluffs, bluffs, gum swamps. Typically in areas of relatively brief, shallow inundation. , Did You Know?, Interesting bark, Showy flowers, Showy fruits, Hurricane wind resistance Attracts long-tongued bees, short-tongued bees, wasps, flies, and butterflie
  • Massive stature
  • Prominant olive crownshaft, slightly buldging
  • Long-lasting year-round blooms
Stiff Cornel
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Specimen shrub.  Thorniness makes it a good property edge hedge. , 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, Spiny , Wildlife, Birds eat the fruits (and the red&black arils). , Habitat, Dry coastal hammocks and shell mounds. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Thorns Larval host  for cassius blue (Leptotes cassius theonus), large orange sulphur (Phoebis agarithe), and Miami blue (Cyclargus th
  • Ringed trunk
  • Striking silhouette
  • Drought tolerant
  • Slender trunk, 4" in diameter
  • Flowers year round
Catclaw Blackbead
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Vaccinium stamineum
Specimen shrub. Fine foliage. Does well adjacent to structures or woods. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, Requires acid soil. , Wildlife, Attracts many pollinators--is important to native bees. Birds and other wildlife consume the fruit. , Habitat, Dry sites. Upland mixed forests, sandhill, flatwoods, scrub. , Did You Know?, Fall color, Showy flowers
  • Slow Growth
  • Excellent small hedge
  • Abundance of orange-red flowers in summer
  • Showy creamy white flowers
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Symphyotrichum concolor
Benefits from controlled burns. There are contradictions in herbarium databases, and reliable observations in counties where there are no herbarium sp , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Moderate. Tolerant of salty wind and may get some salt spray. Exposure to salt spray wo , Wildlife, Used as browse by deer to the extent that in some states, browsing is an issue. , Habitat, Dry, sandy , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Nectar plant for many butterfly species but also visited by other native insect pollinators.
  • Tiered branches
  • Wind tolerant
  • Sometime grows horozontially
  • Massive stature
  • Width often exceeds height
  • Slender and elegant
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Tripsacum dactyloides
In a managed garden, gamagrass can be trimmed back at the end of winter. Hedge, foundation planting, individual large grass clump, background screen , Tolerance, Tolerant of occasional/brief inundation such as can occur in storm surges. Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Considertions, Can die back and become messy during cold winters, but new growth covers it in the spring. , Wildlife, Even when trimmed occasionally, Gama Grass will provide cover for small mammals, birds, and reptiles. Deer eat the seeds. , Habitat, Wet bogs, roadsides, ditches, wet hammocks, river banks, low thickets, pine woods, open swamps, open habitats, flatwoods, sandhill, scrub. Also culti , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Showy fruits Larval host for three-spotted skipper (Cymaenes tripunctus), clouded skipper (Lerema accius) and Byssusskipper (Problema
  • Requires protection from strong winds
  • Unique and prized
  • Attractive flowers, typically deep orange
  • Handsome
  • Highly nutritious fruit
  • Wonderfully fragrant at night
Fakahatchee Grass
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Eryngium aquaticum
Moist wildflower garden. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Habitat, Wet prairie, wet pine flatwoods, fresh to brackish marshes, bogs, ditches, swamps. Especially in areas where limestone is close to the surface. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Attracts many pollinators; is especially important for native bees.
  • Rapid growth
  • Stout, swollen trunk
  • Will not tolerate frost
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Tripsacum floridanum
Grows well well north of its native range.  Documented in very southern counties with an outlier in Martin County -- that outlier is also unique in th , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, Can get messy after cold spells. , Wildlife, Seeds are eaten by birds.  Provides cover for lizzards and other small animals. , Habitat, Pine rockland. Also cultivated. Dry sites. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Showy fruits, Interesting foliage Larval host for Byssus Skipper (Problema byssus).
  • Susceptible to breakage, even in moderate winds
  • Highly wind tolerant
  • Symmetrical shape
  • Sometime grows horozontially
  • Elegant appearance
Florida Gamagrass
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Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis
Used extensively in Indian cultures. Fruits are very high in Vitamin C. Casual settings, wetland edge or screen plant. Rain gardens and bioswales. Lo , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, Many would consider this plant weedy: it does self seed and spread via rhizomes. It's wood is weak; stems break easily. Use where these characteristic , Wildlife, Fruits popular with birds. , Habitat, Disturbed wetland edges, wet roadsides, etc. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Showy fruits, Interesting foliage Flowers attract many pollinators.
  • Damaged by citrus canker
  • Recently classified invasive
  • Very showy bright yellow flowers
  • Relatively compact and narrow canopy
  • Requires ample space and light
American Elder
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Elephantopus elatus
Called elephant's foot because of the flat basal leaf formation. Meadows and wildflower gardens. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Habitat, Flatwoods, sandhill, ruderal areas, cutthroat seep, wet prairie. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage Attracts various pollinators, especially bees..  Documented native bees include Azcgochlora pura, Augochlorella au
  • Unique, fern-like leaves
  • Attractive variegated foliage
  • Available multi-stalked
  • Attractive silver-gray foliage
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Reynosia septentrionalis
Wood is dense (hard). Listed as Threatened by the FDACS. Screen plant. Specimen shrub or small tree -- you can choose based on how you opt to prune ( , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Moderate. Tolerant of salty wind and may get some salt spray. Exposure to salt spray wo , Wildlife, Cover and food primarily for birds. , Habitat, Coastal hammocks.
  • Prefers acidic soil
  • Requires high humidity
  • Magnificent
  • Stunning and colorful while in bloom
  • Unusual deep green leaves with bronze underside
  • Striking silhouette
Red Ironwood