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Thelypteris spp.
These are generally moist site ferns though some (T. kunthii, T. ovata) grow in mesic uplands. Most are similar in appearance, and all will grow in a , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, The native range varies by species. Please use species appropriate to your area. , Wildlife, Cover for many ground-dwelling species. , Habitat, Hydric and mesic hammocks, shallow swamps and swamp edges, floodplains. , Did You Know?, Interesting foliage
  • Tiered branches
  • Very showy bright yellow flowers
  • Will not tolerate frost
  • Somewhat salt tolerant
  • Formal, old-world appearance
  • Elegant and stately
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Cornus alternifolia
Small specimen tree. Can also work as an understory tree. , 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, Slope forest, upland hardwood forest. Bluffs, creek forests. , Did You Know?, Fall color, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage Larval host for cecropia silkmoth (Hyalophora cecropia) and spring azure butterfly (Celastrina ladon).
  • Smaller stature
  • Imposing stature
  • Does best with periodic fertalization
  • Easily trimmed to maintain desired size
  • Susceptible to breakage, even in moderate winds
  • Not a true pine
Pagoda Dogwood
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Hibiscus aculeatus
Tolerates winter flooding. This is a wetland plant. It is rarely grown, but it has potential in appropriate sites. Wet wildflower garden. For appeara , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Habitat, Moist sites. Hydric and mesic pine flatwoods, edges of sloughs, savannas, bogs, ditches. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Larval host of  Gray Hairstreak, Painted Lady Butterfly, Common Checkered Skipper and Tropical Checkered Skipper butterflies and  four
  • Can be trimmed into manicured shapes
  • Unusually shaped, asymmetrical tree
  • Fragrant clusters of flowers in fall
  • Cold tolerant
  • Wide umbrella-shaped canopy
  • Not recommended
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Lygodesmia aphylla
The short lived bloom opens before sunrise and is most beautiful from just before dawn till about mid-morning when it fully opens. By night fall it wi , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Habitat, Dry sandy soils, flatwoods, pine barrens, sandhill, scrub, and disturbed areas , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Attract a wide variety of insect pollinators.  One documented bee pollinator is Augochlorella aurata (Deyrup et al. 2002).
  • Very showy bright yellow flowers
  • Attractive contrast between flowers and foliage
  • Wonderfully fragrant at night
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Diospyros virginiana
Persimmon wood is very hard and nearly black--it's in the ebony family. Typically grown for its fruit. Plant in full sun. Also useful as an early suc , 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, Tent caterpillars can be an aesthetic issue and fruit drop can be messy. Persimmons are dioecious, so if you wish to have fruit, make sure that you ha , Wildlife, Fruits are used by a broad array of small mammals and some birds. , Habitat, Dry-moist-wet sites. Disturbed sites, wetland edges, old fields, sandhill. , Did You Know?, Fall color, Showy fruits, Hurricane wind resistance Larval host for royal walnut moth (Citheronia regalis), pecan carpenterworm moth (Cossula magnifi
  • Very showy clusters of red flowers
  • Tall and romantic
  • Formal appearance
  • Dense, full crown
  • Wonderfully fragrant
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Dalea pinnata
Three species occur in Florida. Please plant your local variety. Wildflower garden where it is very showy in late summer/early fall. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Wildlife, Some birds and small mammals consume consume the seeds (https://flawildflowers.org/). , Habitat, Dry flatwoods, sandhill, scrub. This species can be seen at the Starkey Wilderness Preserve in Pasco County. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage Larval host for southern dogface (Zerene cesonia). Attracts insects, especially bees.
  • Majestic, sprawling canopy
  • Prominant gray-olive crownshaft
  • Tiered branches
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Crataegus flava
Specimen plant, screen plantings, sometimes with unusual or weeping form. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, Thorns. , Wildlife, Birds and other wildlife consume the fruit.  Used as browse by deer and rabbits. , Habitat, Dry sites. Open woods, mixed woods, sandy pinelands. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Thorns Larval food for hummingbird clearwing moth(Hemaris thysbe), striped hairstreak butterfly(Satyrium liparops), and blinded sphinx
  • Elegant appearance
  • Tall and stately
  • Showy reddish peeling bark
  • Stately and uncommon
  • Lovely dark green, shiny leaves
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Vernonia gigantea
The genus name honors the English botanist William Vernon, who did fieldwork in North America. Back of a moist wildflower garden. Can also use on the , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Habitat, Exposed sand and gravel bars of streams during low water, stream banks, hydric to wet mesic pine flatwoods. Rich soils. Ruderal. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Nectar attracts butterflies and native beens.  Larval host for spring azure butterfly.
  • Colorful new leafs
  • Rare, despite being a South Florida native
  • Beautiful rounded dense canopy
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Spigelia marilandica
Bloom period can be prolonged by removing flowers as they wither. It does not compete well with aggressive plants. Wildflower garden. Blooms best in , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Wildlife, Attracts hummingbirds which are the primary pollinator. , Habitat, Upland woods. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers
  • Prominent pale green crownshaft
  • Falls over easily, may require staking
  • Completely bare in winter
  • Adequate moisture required
  • Christmas tree shape
  • Rare and unique
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Quercus phellos
The range of this tree barely makes it into north Florida. It is much more common in the remainder of the southeast. Shade tree. The root system is f , 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, Fallen/falling acorns may be an issue. , Wildlife, Acorns are eaten by woodpeckers, songbirds, ducks, small mammals, wild turkeys, white-tailed deer, quail and black bears Provides cover and nesting ar , Habitat, Floodplains, hardwood swamp borders. , Did You Know?, Fall color, Hurricane wind resistance Host plant for the banded hairstreak, Edward's hairstreak, gray hairstreak, white-M hairstreak, Horace's duskyw
  • Beautiful rounded canopy
  • Lush, dense shade tree
  • Excellent small hedge
  • Symmetrical shape
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Bidens laevis
Depending on the weather, this may be either an annual or perennial in Florida. Informal gardens in wet sites. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, The fruits stick to pant legs and animal fur leading to moniker beggarticks. Generally no an issue in the wetland sites where this will grow. , Habitat, Swamps, river edget , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Attracts native bees and butterflies
  • Tall and romantic
  • Fruit attracts wildlife
  • Striking symmetrical appearance
  • Unique and prized
  • Beloved in South Florida
  • Grows tall, but not massive
Smooth Beggarticks
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Rosa carolina
Information on salt tolerance comes from northern nurseries and likely relates to tolerance of salt used for de-icing or roadways.  The extent to whic , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Considertions, Thorny (well, you would expect that for a rose!) , Wildlife, Fruits eaten by birds and small mammals. , Habitat, Dry deciduous forests. Also cultivated. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Thorns Attracts a variety of insects, especially important for native bees.
  • Uncommon edible fruit
  • Can be grown indoors
  • Attractive dark green leaves
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Pieris phyllyreifolia
Based on BONAP maps, the ISB maps and specimens, and one author's personal observations, the range of this species appears to be those parts of the co , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Habitat, Upland mixed forests, sandhill, cypress swamps, moist pinelands, white cedar swamps, sandhills near sinkhole ponds, often climbing on pond cypress or , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage Said to attract early spring pollinators (Using Georgia Native Plants Blog).
  • Easily trimmed for smaller spaces
  • Requires occassional fertalization
  • Fast growth
Climbing Pieris, Fetterbush
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Iris verna var. smalliana
Noted for fragrance. Casual shade garden. It spreads, so eventually acts as a groundcover. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Attracts bees, esp. bumblebees.
  • Stunning
  • Wonderfully fragrant, carries a great distance
  • Arched, recurving fronds
  • Colorful older leaves
  • Slow Growth
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Vigna lutea
Range includes areas usually relatively near the coast in Southeastern United States west to Texas, north to North Carolina, and south to the Monroe C , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Considertions, Tends to be weedy in behavior and appearance. , Wildlife, Likely used as forage by species such as deer.  Good cover. , Habitat, Coastal areas, flatwoods, disturbed areas. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Larval host for cassius blue (Leptotes cassius), dorantes longtail (Urbanus dorantes), gray hairstreak (Strymon melinus), and long-tail
  • Showy creamy white flowers
  • Unique purple-brown crownshaft
  • Stunning long emerald crownshaft
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Phlebodium aureum
This is a native that makes Florida look tropical. Herbarium specimens from Leon County say that the fern was likely brought in.  Otherwise, the north , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Habitat, Hammocks. Epiphytic on cabbage palm. Occasionally in humus at ground level. , Did You Know?, Interesting foliage
  • Highly nutritious fruit
  • Wonderfully fragrant flowers
  • Wonderfully fragrant
  • Colorful older leaves
  • Attractive mottled bark
  • Beautiful rounded canopy
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Each stem has soft, fleshy green flanges running longitudinally down its length. When winter weather brings ice, the stems exude water that freezes in , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Habitat, Moist forest edges. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Attracts native bees. Nectar source for butterflies.
  • Long-lived perennial
  • Flowers year round
  • Tall and stately
  • Narrow crown
White Crownbeard
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Colubrina arborescens
Listed as endangered in Florida. Please acquire from appropriate sources. Large tree or small shrub. Buffer planting or specimen tree. , 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, Seeds. Can become a weed. , Wildlife, Birds and other small wildlife consume seed. , Habitat, Rockland hammocks and understory of pine rocklands. , Did You Know?, Interesting foliage Pollinated by bees (http://tropical.theferns.info/).
  • Native
  • Narrow canopy
  • Abundance of orange-red flowers in summer
  • Lush, dense shade tree
Coffee Colubrina
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Galactia striata
Host plant for Zestos Skipper butterfly which is believed to be extirpated (extinct) in FLorida. Also used by Cassius blue, longtailed skipper, and Za , Tolerance, Tolerant of occasional/brief inundation such as can occur in storm surges. Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Considertions, Scrambling vine likely best suited to informal settings. Individual stems may be up to 10 ft long. , Habitat, Hammocks , Did You Know?, Larval host plant for cassius blue (Leptotes cassius), long-tailed skipper (Urbanus proteus), zestos skipper (Epargyreus zestos) and zarucco duskywing
  • Narrow canopy
  • Elegant
  • Unique fluffy fronds
  • Wide umbrella-shaped canopy
  • Striking symmetrical appearance
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Silene catesbaei
Rare and listed as endangered. Please obtain this plant only from reputable native plant nurseries or friends -- do not harvest from the wild. Little , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Habitat, Slope forest. On calcareous soils. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Visited by small insects including bees but the specific pollinators are apparently not known.
  • Uniquely shaped with a muscular look
  • Showy reddish peeling bark
  • Produces aromatic flowers year-round
  • Available multi-stalked
  • Somewhat salt tolerant
  • Can be kept narrow
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Carex gholsonii
Ground cover in  wet to moist areas. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Unknown , Habitat, Seep swamps, swamp edges, wet mesic hammocks, floodplains, wet limestone glades, wet roadsides. , Did You Know?, Interesting foliage
  • Unique foliage and silhouette
  • Striking silhouette
  • Not recommended
  • Unique and prized
  • Stunning during brief late spring bloom