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Varronia globosa
Background shrub. , Tolerance, Tolerant of inundation with brackish water Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Considertions, Can become weedy in the right conditions. , Wildlife, Birds and other wildlife consume food. Attracts various pollinators especially bees and butterflies. , Habitat, Old fields, open areas, edges of hammocks. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Showy fruits Attracts butterflies including malachite, atala, and daggerwinds (Haehle and Brookstone 1999).
  • Not recommended
  • Readily pruned into attractive shapes
  • Elegant and compact
  • Salt tolerant
Butterfly-sage, Curacao Bush
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Rudbeckia spp.
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.
  • Long emerald crownshaft
  • Can be grown indoors
  • Somewhat drought tolerant
  • Colorful new leafs
  • No longer recommended
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Viburnum acerifolium
Specimen shrub, woodland understory shrub, screen, shrub border, mass plantings , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, Clonal: sends out many suckers. , Wildlife, Birds and other wildlife consume fruit. , Habitat, Upland woods. Bluffs. , Did You Know?, Fall color, Showy flowers, Showy fruits Larval host for the spring azure butterfly (Celastrina ladon). Both native and non-native viburnums (Viburnum
  • Can be trimmed into manicured shapes
  • Beautiful sweeping fronds with drooping leaflets
  • Narrow canopy
  • Narrow crown
  • Relatively uncommon in South Florida
  • Pyramidal crown
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Bletia purpurea
Retain if present in natural setting. Can be grown in a wildflower garden. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Habitat, Pine rocklands, swampy forests on stumps and logs just above high water levels, in humus. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers The flowers do not produce nectar but use food deception to attract various bees including Euglossa, Thygater and Melipona, a genus of
  • Width often exceeds height
  • Raised diamond-shaped trunk pattern
  • Colorful older leaves
  • Attractive contrast between flowers and foliage
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Asclepias lanceolata
Don't confuse this native with the non-native tropical or scarlet milkweed (Asclepias curassavica), that is often sold in big box stores, which has re , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, Toxic. , Wildlife, Larval host plant for monarch (Danaus plexippus) and queen (Danaus gilippus) butterflies; possible larval host of soldier (Danaus eresimus) butterflie , Habitat, Wet flatwoods, savannas, marshes, swamps , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Larval host plant for monarch (Danaus plexippus) and queen (Danaus gilippus) butterflies; possible larval host of soldier (Danaus eresi
  • Narrow crown
  • Fragrant clusters of flowers in fall
  • Easy/Carefree
Few-flower Milkweed
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Aronia arbutifolia
Often grows with ink berry and palmettos. Beautiful early spring-blooming shrub. Grow at edge of wooded areas or as a specimen. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Wildlife, Various birds eat the berries including titmice, nuthatches, warblers, chickadees, cardinals, grosbeaks, and orioles. , Habitat, Wet sites. Seep slopes, wet flatwoods, edges of swamps. , Did You Know?, Interesting bark, Fall color, Showy flowers, Showy fruits Flowers attract bees and butterflies.  Pollinated by bees.
  • Massive stature
  • Very rare
  • Stunning colorful foliage
  • Very full crown
  • Briefly bare for about a month in the winter
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Persea humilis
Do not plant this plant unless you are absolutely sure that it is not infected by laurel wilt disease.  In general, this small bay seems to be escapin , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Considertions, This small tree appears to less likely to be killed by laurel wilt than Florida's other bays.. It is likely that it is too small to attract the beetle , Wildlife, Fruits eaten and dispersed by birds. , Habitat, Dry sites. Scrub, high pine, scrubby sandhill. , Did You Know?, Interesting foliage Larval host plant for palamedes swallowtail (Papilio palamedes) and spicebush swallowtail (Papilio troilus) butterflies. Attracts
  • Decorative diamond-shaped trunk pattern
  • Very fast growth rate
  • Attractive light to medium green crownshaft
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Nolina brittoniana
This is listed by the USFWS as Endangered and may require landowner permission and/or permits to transplant. Please do not disturb this species unless , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Habitat, Scrub, sandhilll. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Showy fruits The following Hymenoptera families and species were observed visiting flowers of Nolina brittoniana at Archbold Biologica
  • Excellent choice for narrow spaces
  • Dark green leaves
  • Unique, stout pineapple-like trunk when young
Britton's Beargrass
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Crinum americanum
This is a wetland plant, but it will do well once established in a moist garden setting. Moist wildflower gardens. Easily grown along streams. , Tolerance, Tolerant of inundation with brackish water Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Habitat, Riverine swamps, riverine marshes, open wet prairies. , Did You Know?, Aroma, fragrance, Showy flowers Pollinated by sphinx moths. Larval host for Spanish moth a.k.a. convict caterpillar (Xanthopastis timais)
  • Easily trimmed for smaller spaces
  • Elegant
  • Adequate fertalization required
  • Tall and romantic
  • Can be trimmed into manicured shapes
Swamp Lily
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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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Persea palustris
This species and other members of the Lauraceae are being attacked by a serious, fatal disease. Do not plant this plant unless you are absolutely sure , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Considertions, Do not move deadwood. It will spread the disease. , Wildlife, Seed eaten and dispersed by birds. , Habitat, Shallow areas in swamps, hydric savannas, seep slopes including cutthroat seeps, wet flatwoods, sloughs. , Did You Know?, Aroma, fragrance Larval host plant for palamedes swallowtail (Papilio palamedes) and spicebush swallowtail (Papilio troilus) butterflies. Attracts be
  • Unusually shaped, asymmetrical tree
  • Symmetrical shape
  • Not a true pine
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Borrichia frutescens
Natural range is restricted to coastal areas. Native borders, foundation plant, especially in salty environments. Can be trimmed. , Tolerance, Tolerant of inundation with brackish water High. Can tolerate significant and ongoing amounts of salty wind and salt spray without injury. , Considertions, Suckers heavily forming large patches. , Wildlife, Birds and small mammals use the seeds. , Habitat, Salt marsh, tidal flats. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Nectar plant for great southern white (Ascia monuste), gulf fritillary (Agraulis vanillae), large orange sulphur (Phoebis agarithe), so
  • Will not tolerate frost
  • Relatively uncommon in South Florida
  • Very full crown
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Vaccinium myrsinites
The range includes all of peninsular Florida and the southern parts of Georgia, and Alabama. Best used as a wildflower as it has a relatively short l , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Wildlife, Birds and other wildlife consume the fruit. , Habitat, Scrub, scrubby flatwoods, flatwoods, high pine, cutthroat seep. , Did You Know?, Fall color, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage Attracts pollinators.  Documented bee species include Augochlorella aurata, A. gratiosa, Augochloropsi
  • Dense, full crown
  • Does poorly oceanside
  • Raised diamond-shaped trunk pattern
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Heliotropium gnaphalodes
Is listed as Endangered in Florida. Hedges; small specimen plants; mass planting; ground cover; large planters. Dune reclamation. , 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, A beautiful shrub for oceanfront gardens, but susceptible to diseases inland. , Habitat, Coastal uplands, dunes. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Interesting foliage, Hurricane wind resistance Nectar plant for Miami blue (Cyclargus thomasi bethunebakeri) and other butterfly speci
  • Beloved in South Florida
  • Does poorly oceanside
  • Attracts butterflies
  • Relatively compact and narrow canopy
Sea-rosemary
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Coreopsis tripteris
Plant at the back of an informal wildflower or butterfly garden--it gets tall. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Habitat, Moist upland hardwood forests, mixed hardwood-pine forests. Secondary woods. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Attracts many insects including bees and butterflies.
  • Compact size
  • Classic Southern tree
  • Wonderfully fragrant at night
  • Fruit eaten by birds
  • Very showy bright yellow flowers
  • Massive stature
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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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Ilex verticillata
Rarely grown in Florida. In wet places, it can be planted as a specimen plant for winter interest. When it loses its leaves in the fall, just the ber , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Wildlife, Various bird species eat the fruit. , Habitat, Floodplains, creek swamps. , Did You Know?, Showy fruits Pollinated by bees.
  • Forms an open canopy
  • Attractive flowers, typically deep orange
  • Self-shedding fronds
  • Critically endangered
  • Elegant, dense canopy
  • Raised diamond-shaped trunk pattern
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Magnolia virginiana
The silvery undersides of the leaves are striking. Erroneously listed as a host for palamedes swallowtail butterflies. Palamedes swallowtails only fee , Tolerance, Tolerant of inundation with brackish water Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Wildlife, Seeds are eaten by woodpeckers, kingbirds, red-eyed vireos, mockingbirds, robins, thrushes, crows, cardinals, squirrels, mice among others. Deer brows , Habitat, Bay swamp, forested seep slopes, floodplains of small streams, low flatwoods where fire has been excluded. , Did You Know?, Aroma, fragrance, Showy flowers, Showy fruits, Interesting foliage, Hurricane wind resistance Larval host plant for Eastern tiger swallowtail (Pterou
  • Briefly bare for about a month in the winter
  • Attractive silver-gray foliage
  • Heavy feeder
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Vachellia farnesiana
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.
  • Briefly bare for about a month in the winter
  • Very rare
  • Prominant olive crownshaft
  • Grows tall, but not massive
  • Prominent pale green crownshaft
  • Intoxicating fragrance
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Rhododendron minus var. chapmanii
Endemic to Florida Listed as Endangered by the USFWS and FL Specimen plant. Screen plant. Can be grown in a mass under trees. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Wildlife, Attracts pollinators, including hummingbirds. , Habitat, Mesic flatwoods, scrubby flatwoods, seep slope. Ecotone between flatwoods and edges of titi swamps. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Attracts insects.  Apparently important to bumble bees.
  • Killed by citrus greening (HLB)
  • Elegant and compact
  • Colorful new leafs
  • Excellent edible fruit
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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