Although drought-tolerant, this shrub/small tree may benefit from a few deep, thorough soakings during extremely dry periods. When young, it tends to , 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 , Considertions, Thorns on trunks and branches. Place where flowers and fragrance can be enjoyed, but away from walkways. Can suffer from root rot if too wet. , Wildlife, The thorny branches make good cover for birds and other wildlife. Fruits are not generally valued. Attracts pollinators. There are 2 subspecies, V. fa , Habitat, Coastal uplands, ruderal, shell middens , Did You Know?, Aroma, fragrance, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage, Thorns Attracts pollinators and uses ants both for protection against unwanted insects.

Multiple species are native to Florida.  Most are attractive and many are easy to grow.  This is a catch-all for species not listed individually.  Ple , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Wildlife, Small seed-eating birds pick out the seeds from the mature flower heads. , Habitat, Vary by species. Mostly sandhills, bogs, roadsides, ruderal. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Attract butterflies, bees and wasps.

All perennial Dicerandra species in Florida a rare and endangered. They appear to be closely related and form hybrid swarms if grown in a common garde , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, Difficult to establish and hence rarely grown. Retain this if you have it on a site. These are abundant along some dry roadsides and retaining these w , Habitat, Sandhill settings. , Did You Know?, Aroma, fragrance, Showy flowers Attracts pollinators.

This is one of the most common ferns in central-southern Florida and potentially one of the most beautiful. Ground cover for moist, shady sites. Also , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, Will spread unless contained by physical or environmental limits. Periodic removal of old fronds is recommended. , Habitat, Marshes, swamps , Did You Know?, Interesting foliage

It can be difficult to maintain habitat for this plant.  Keeping the competition down seems to be critical (mow, burn, etc.). We know of no Florida nu , Tolerance , Considertions, foliage and seeds have toxic properties, primarily due to the lupine alkaloids , Habitat, Open, sandy woods. Adapted to fire. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Larval host for several butterflies. Attracts bees including bumblebees.

Despite the appearance of the county-based range map, the actual range is limited to the coastal areas. Wildflower garden. Groundcover. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. High. Can tolerate significant and ongoing amounts of salty wind and salt spray without i , Considertions, West and east coast beach sunflowers can hybridize, so it is best not to plant east coast beach sunflower withing the natural range of wet cost beach , Wildlife, Birds and small mammals eat the seeds. , Habitat, Beach dune. Disturbed areas near coast (ruderal) , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Primarily pollinated by bees.

Called cinnamon fern because of the color of its fertile fronds. In Florida it sends up its fertile fronds in the spring and fall; farther north in it , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Habitat, This species typically grows on seepage edges of swamps and in the upper reaches of baygalls (bay swamps). It is not found in long-term standing wate , Did You Know?, Showy fruits, Interesting foliage

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.

As the name infers, the flowers of this plant open at night. Once the sun starts coming up, the flowers will begin to wilt. By night fall the flowers , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Considertions, This species can be weedy. , Wildlife, Bobwhite, mourning dove and gold finches feed on the seeds , Habitat, Cutleaf evening-primrose is found most often in sandy and limerock based soils, and favors disturbed areas. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Attracts native bees, butterflies and moths.  Especially interesting to native bees.

Large clump-forming grass with uses as tall groundcover, specimen plant, or border plant. Nice along edges of ponds and water features. , 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 , Habitat, Wet prairie, edges of marshes, but mostly inland--rarely coastal. , Did You Know?, Interesting foliage

Although palm-like in appearance, this is a cycad, a primitive group of non-flowering plants. It is listed as commercially exploited by the state of F , Tolerance, Tolerant of inundation with brackish water Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Considertions, Grows slowly. Seeds, foliage, and roots are toxic. , Habitat, Upland hardwood forests, high pine, coastal hammocks, shell middens. , Did You Know?, Interesting foliage Larval host for the rare atala butterfly (Eumaeus atala florida) which is restricted to South Florida and the echo moth (Sierarct

This is a large tree best used in settings where its form can be appreciated. It is both a specimen tree and and shade tree. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Considertions, In some settings, the tree begins as an epiphyte and sends roots down to the ground wrapping around the host. This is interesting in natural settings , Wildlife, Birds and small mammals consume fruit and often deposit seeds high in the canopy. , Habitat, Moist-wet sites to dry sites and on shallow soils over limestone. Tropical hammocks, swamps. May be epiphytic or have aerial roots that may wrap arou , Did You Know?, Interesting bark, Showy fruits, Interesting foliage Larval host for ruddy daggerwing (Marpesia petreus) and Antillean daggerwing (Marpesia eleuchea)