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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 that it was collected near a cypress dome. Closely related to corn, this species has been crossed with maize to produce a corn that is resistant to Helminthosporium turcicum, the fungus that causes northern leaf blight  (Wikipedia). Listed as Threatened in Florida. Informal borders.
  • Susceptible to breakage, even in moderate winds
  • Highly wind tolerant
  • Symmetrical shape
  • Sometime grows horozontially
  • Elegant appearance
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Liatris spicata
Wildflower garden.
  • Smaller stature
  • Classic Southern tree
  • Lovely dark green, shiny leaves
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Seymeria spp.
They are included here because they are valuable to insects and because they are lovely and good to have in a native garden if you are lucky enough to have them naturally.   Data on culture has been assumed from where this grows in nature -- it is not typically grown and no reliable data appears to be available. Can parasatize southern pines leading, in heavy infestations, to loss of vigor. Retain in semi-natural gardens.
  • Compact size
  • Does best in cooler areas of South Florida
  • Colorful new leafs
  • Tropical silhouette
  • Excellent small to medium hedge
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Ilex opaca
Both male and female plants required for pollination and seed set. Specimen tree.  Screen.
  • Fruit eaten by birds
  • Does best in warmer areas of South Florida
  • Moderately slow growth
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Acoelorraphe wrightii
Specimen plant, typically forms clumps of stems,the young fan-shaped fronds hide the principal stems. The lower fronds can be removed so that the trunks can be clearly seen. Sometimes used as a street tree.
  • Elegant and stately
  • Grows tall, but not massive
  • Easy/Carefree native
  • Bright red fruits
  • Slender and elegant
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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 leaves that are white on the bottom. It flowers in the fall.
  • Sprawling and informal shrub
  • Arched, recurving fronds
  • Requires occassional fertalization
  • Thick branching into attractive silouttes
  • Highly salt tolerant
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Eryngium aquaticum
Moist wildflower garden.
  • Rapid growth
  • Stout, swollen trunk
  • Will not tolerate frost
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Euphorbia heterophylla
The author treats this as a friendly weed. Pull them if where there is something more desirable. Back of a wildflower garden in a casual setting. Grown en-masse, this plant can be used as a temporary groundcover.
  • Classic Southern tree
  • Rare and unique
  • Silvery blue-green fronds
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Penstemon laevigatus
Informal shady semi-shady gardens.
  • Prominent blue-gray crownshaft
  • Prized scent, used in commercial perfumes
  • Prominant gray-olive crownshaft
  • Raised diamond-shaped trunk pattern
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Pityopsis graminifolia
Minimize competition especially if it is over-topping the Pityopsis. Wildflower garden. Foliage can be attractive year-round as silvery-gray green. Also suitable for naturalizing. The foliage will spread into a small mat which can be used to some extent as a groundcover.
  • Ringed trunk
  • Pleasant rounded shape
  • Long-lasting year-round blooms
  • Readily pruned into attractive shapes
  • Stunning colorful foliage
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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.
  • Massive stature
  • Prominant olive crownshaft, slightly buldging
  • Long-lasting year-round blooms
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Manilkara jaimiqui subsp. emarginata
Rare. Listed by the FACS as Threatened.  Please acquire only from reputable dalers with appropriate permits. Screen or buffer plant. Specimen shrub.
  • Narrow canopy
  • Showy reddish peeling bark
  • Majestic, sprawling canopy
  • Attracts butterflies
  • Magnificent showy flowers in summer
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Tradescantia roseolens
The cells of the stamen hairs of some Tradescantia are colored blue, but when exposed to sources of ionizing radiation such as gamma rays, the cells mutate and change color to pink; they are one of the few tissues known to serve as an effective bioassay for ambient radiation levels. Border plantings.
  • Massive stature when mature
  • Unique, sweet, almond-like flavor
  • Fast growth
  • Unique swollen blue-green to silver trunk
  • Moderately slow growth
  • Requires protection from strong winds
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Aesculus pavia
Use as a specimen plant or understory tree. May be single or multi-stemmed.
  • Requires protection from strong winds
  • Unique and prized
  • Attractive blue-green to silver leaflets
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Litsea aestivalis
Litsea aestivalis is listed as Endangered by the State of Florida.  Since that listing, the laurel wilt disease has come to Florida, and is known to kill this species.   It is likely best to plant this plant only if the stock is known to be disease free, and only if planting it is not likely to provide new hosts for the disease.  As with any Endangered species, please acquire only from reputable nurseries with appropriate licences to grown and sell this species. The documented range of this species suggests that the occurrence is sparse, but fairly broad in the northern half of Florida.  It is also a plant that is easily overlooked and that may have a wider range than that suggested by documentation from herbarium specimens given that much of its habitat has likely been eliminated by forestry practices.  It is also probably that the range is becoming sparser due to laurel wilt. Wetland areas where the goal is to attract birds.
  • Highly nutritious fruit
  • Beautiful pinwheel flowers, often multicolored
  • Cornerstone plant in South Florida
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Liriodendron tulipifera
While its common name is tulip poplar, it is not related to poplars--it is a member of the magnolia family. Source of the name probably comes from the nature of the light-colored wood. Noted as a good honey plant. Its range in Florida appears to be disjunct.  However, there is no reason to believe that this plant would cause issues if planted outside of that range.  It is said not to perform well to the south of its range. Large shade tree.
  • Lovely dark green, shiny leaves
  • Sometime grows horozontially
  • Prominent pale green crownshaft
  • Arched, recurving fronds
  • Beautiful exotic foliage
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Orontium aquaticum
Curiosity in wetland gardens.
  • Pyramidal crown
  • Excellent small hedge
  • Killed by citrus greening (HLB)
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Erithalis fruticosa
This plant is considered to be Threatened in Florida. Please preserve in the landscape and acquire new plants in an environmentally sound manner (seed or nursery-grown plants). Good as a buffer plant. Could be used as an informal hedge.
  • Somewhat drought tolerant
  • Narrow enough for tight spaces
  • Attractive variegated foliage
  • Prominent pale green crownshaft
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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. This is a personal favorite of one of the authors -- it grows and bloom early and attracts lots of insects.  The only issue is the prickles, so I wear gloves when weeding around it.  It reseeds readily so long as there is good sun and  bare ground where the seeds land. Don't let the name fool you, this is a Florida native. Wildflower garden. Roadside wildflower areas. This plant blooms from late winter into spring displaying its large flowers when little else is blooming in the garden.
  • 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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Gleditsia triacanthos
Very thorny. In the northern parts of its range, a thornless cultivar is planted. Specimen tree. To avoid insect issues, best not to plant in large numbers.
  • Tall and stately
  • Flowers year round
  • Wonderfully fragrant
  • Pleasant rounded shape
  • Prolific fruiter
  • Excellent small to medium hedge
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Tridens flavus
Rear of garden as a screen.  Native meadows.
  • Medium stature
  • Beautiful rounded dense canopy
  • Unique foliage
  • Moderately rapid growth