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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 , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, Both species are hemi-parasitic (semi-parasitic) and difficult to grow without appropriate host plants. , Habitat, Open upland woods and disturbed edges. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Larval host for  black buckeye. Attracts insects.
  • 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. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, Sharp spines (teeth) on leaves. , Wildlife, Fruits are eaten by birds. , Habitat, Upland woods, second bottom but will not tolerate long flooding. Often an understory plant. Documented in Lee County in a site likely to be natural. , Did You Know?, Showy fruits, Interesting foliage, Hurricane wind resistance Bees pollinate flowers.
  • Fruit eaten by birds
  • Does best in warmer areas of South Florida
  • Moderately slow growth
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Lythrum alatum var. lanceolatum
Some literature sources suggest that this species may have some salt tolerance as it apparently grows along the upper edges of some salt marshes, but , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Habitat, Moist-wet sites. Wet flatwoods, roadside ditches in former flatwoods. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers This plant is an insect magnet! It attracts insects including long-tongued bees, green metallic bees, bee flies, butterflies, and skipp
  • Ideal for smaller spaces
  • Abundance of orange-red flowers in summer
  • Long-lasting year-round blooms
  • Extremely versatile
  • Elegant appearance
  • Somewhat drought tolerant
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Capsicum annuum var. glabriusculum
Edible, very hot fruits , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Wildlife, Birds (especially mockingbirds) eat the green, un-ripened peppers. , Did You Know?, Showy fruits Attracts bees.
  • Pineapple-like showy fruits (female plants)
  • Bright red fruits
  • Does poorly in very wet soil
  • Attractive flowers, typically deep orange
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Bourreria cassinifolia
Listed as Endangered in Florida. Please acquire only from reputable nurseries. The US range is limited to Florida. Globally, it is also found in the W , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Wildlife, Attracts  hummingbirds Fruits are harvested by a variety of birds , Habitat, Marshes, ruderal in disturbed wet areas. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Attracts a variety of pollinators including bees and many types of butterflies including Julieas, zebra longwings, skippers, sulphurs.
  • Stately and uncommon
  • Adequate moisture required
  • Underutilized
  • No longer recommended
Smooth Strongbark
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Taxodium distichum
Younger specimens have a conical shape, but older trees tend to flatten out at the top. In some areas, the strangler fig (Ficus aurea)has strangled ma , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, Can produce knees, even if grown in uplands. , Wildlife, Attracts seed-eating birds. Valuable as roosting and nesting areas for colonial wading birds. , Habitat, Riverine swamps, large swamps around lakes. Inundated areas associated with some form of flowing water. Floodplains, sloughs, strands. May be assoc , Did You Know?, Fall color, Interesting foliage, Hurricane wind resistance Larval host for baldcypress sphinx (Isoparce cupressi) moth.
  • Not as popular as it once was
  • Very full crown
  • Often draped with Spanish moss
  • Iconic symbol of the south
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Aesculus pavia
Use as a specimen plant or understory tree. May be single or multi-stemmed. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, Toxic fruits and foliage. Leaves drop earlier than other deciduous trees. , Habitat, Upland hardwood forests. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage
  • Requires protection from strong winds
  • Unique and prized
  • Attractive blue-green to silver leaflets
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Spartina alterniflora
Used for shoreline protection. A major saltmarsh plant. Useful for erosion control. , Tolerance, Tolerant of frequent or regular inundation (usually areas with tidal inundation) High. Can tolerate significant and ongoing amounts of salty wind and , Wildlife, Birds and other animals eat the seeds. , Habitat, Salt marsh, tidal flats, beaches. , Did You Know?, Interesting foliage Larval food for Louisiana eyed silkmoth (Automeris louisiana)
  • Stunning
  • Long emerald crownshaft
  • Beautiful purple-brown crownshaft
Smooth Cordgrass
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Philadelphus inodorus
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-sm , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Habitat, Hammocks, near limestone. , Did You Know?, Aroma, fragrance, Showy flowers Pollinated by bees.
  • Showy display of fruit
  • Decorative diamond-shaped trunk pattern
  • Unique, stout pineapple-like trunk when young
  • Drought tolerant
  • Clusters of tubular flowers
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Cornus amomum
Has considerable winter interest as its bark is smooth and red. Wet site hedge, wet site specimen plant especially if a clump is suitable.Rarely plan , 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.  Fruits used by birds and small mammals. , Habitat, Riverine swamps, natural levees along streams, lake margins. Typically in areas with shallow annual inundation, typically during the winter/early spri , Did You Know?, Interesting bark, Showy flowers Larval host for cecropia silkmoth (Hyalophora cecropia) and spring azure butterfly (Celastrina ladon).  Attracts long
  • Thick branching into attractive silouttes
  • Wonderfully fragrant
  • Attracts butterflies and bees
Silky Cornel
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Randia aculeata
Fruit is a white berry with indigo pulp. Specimen plant. Shrub border or foundation plant. Will tolerate shearing. Valued for its shiny foliage and d , 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 , Considertions, Often produces spines at the bases of leaves. , Wildlife, Fruits attract birds. Also used for cover. , Habitat, Edges of coastal hammocks, pine rocklands, rocky flats. , Did You Know?, Showy fruits, Interesting foliage, Thorns Nectar plant for Schaus' swallowtail (Heraclides aristodemus) and other butterflies. Larval host plant for
  • Attractive variegated foliage
  • Not as popular as it once was
  • Beautiful shiny green leaves
  • Majestic and graceful
  • Breathtaking and memorable
  • Available multi-stalked
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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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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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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. , Tolerance, Tolerant of inundation with brackish water Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Wildlife, Provides food and cover for birds small mammals. , Habitat, Coastal hammocks. Pine rocklands. , Did You Know?, Interesting foliage
  • Narrow canopy
  • Showy reddish peeling bark
  • Majestic, sprawling canopy
  • Attracts butterflies
  • Magnificent showy flowers in summer
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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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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 , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, Not particularly wind tolerant as a stand-alone specimen because of brittle wood and shallow root system. , Wildlife, Provides cover for birds and mammals. Said to attract hummingbirds. , Habitat, Mesic forests, 2nd bottom, upland hardwood forests. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage Larval host for eastern tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) Attracts bees.
  • Lovely dark green, shiny leaves
  • Sometime grows horozontially
  • Prominent pale green crownshaft
  • Arched, recurving fronds
  • Beautiful exotic foliage
Yellow-poplar
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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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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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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