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Vallesia antillana
It is listed as endangered by the state of Florida and as critically imperiled in South Florida by The Institute for Regional Conservation. Specimen shrub. Foliage is shiny, attractive. Grown mostly for its interesting, translucent fruits.
  • Lush, dense shade tree
  • Beloved in South Florida
  • Deciduous
  • Highly wind tolerant
  • Highly salt tolerant
  • Underutilized
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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 edges of natural or created wetlands and streams.
  • Colorful new leafs
  • Rare, despite being a South Florida native
  • Beautiful rounded dense canopy
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Helianthus debilis subsp. debilis
To avoid introgression with other H. debilis subspecies, do not grow them in a common garden. Ground cover in sandy, open environments.
  • Decorative diamond-shaped trunk pattern
  • Rare and unique
  • Completely bare in winter
  • Compact size
  • Wonderfully fragrant at night
  • Stunning during brief late spring bloom
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Symphyotrichum elliottii
Moist wildflower garden. Wetland garden. Plant in full sun and give it plenty of room and plant behind shorter plants.
  • Elegant and stately
  • Requires shade when young
  • Excellent choice for narrow spaces
  • Imposing stature
  • Stunning colorful foliage
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Paspalum vaginatum
Similar in general appearance to St. Augustine grass. To look nice as a turf grass, seashore paspalum requires water and fertilizer and needs frequent mowing. High tolerance for heat and salt and will tolerate some shade. Tolerates some traffic and can recover quickly from moderate wear during spring and summer, but not suited to heavy uses such as ball fields. There is question on how appropriate it is to consider the cultivated varieties native. The range in Florida is essentially the sandy coastal areas.  A few other herbarium specimens appear to have been gathered from disturbed areas.  Given that this species is being used as a turf grass, we can expect it to occasionally occur outside of its historic settings. Used as a turf grass or in a wet meadow.
  • Extremely popular
  • Lovely deep green, glossy leaves
  • Intoxicating fragrance
  • Beautiful purple-brown crownshaft
  • Requires protection from strong winds
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Viburnum rufidulum
Specimen plant, screen plant, understory tree/shrub.
  • Flowers year round
  • Imposing stature
  • Silvery blue-green fronds
  • Highly wind tolerant
  • Lovely deep green, glossy leaves
  • Unique, stout pineapple-like trunk when young
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Varronia globosa
Background shrub.
  • Not recommended
  • Readily pruned into attractive shapes
  • Elegant and compact
  • Salt tolerant
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Myrsine cubana
It's quite hardy and tolerant of difficult environments. The herbarium specimen from Wakulla County is from a natural area.  It is a 2012 specimen and could represent a range expansion. Hedge or screen plant. Can be used on the edges of parking lots. Fairly narrow in form.
  • Long-lived perennial
  • Christmas tree shape
  • Formal, old-world appearance
  • Beautiful shiny green leaves
  • Heavy feeder
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Ipomoea pes-caprae subsp. brasiliensis
Seeds float and can be dispersed by water. Noted as a sand stabilizer being one of the first plants to colonize active dunes. Pan-tropical. Makes a nice groundcover in an informal dry yard. In nature, it is an important stabilizer of beach dunes.
  • Uncommon edible fruit
  • Relatively uncommon in South Florida
  • Showy clusters orange-yellow fruits in spring
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Helianthus spp.
For best results, use species naturally found in your area Wildflower garden. Most species bloom best if in light shade or sun, though it does depend on species.
  • Does poorly in very wet soil
  • Handsome
  • Lovely dark green, shiny leaves
  • Tropical silhouette
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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.
  • Tall and romantic
  • Fruit attracts wildlife
  • Striking symmetrical appearance
  • Unique and prized
  • Beloved in South Florida
  • Grows tall, but not massive
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Ilex krugiana
Listed as Threatened in Florida.  Please acquire only from appropriately licensed sources. Specimen tree or understory tree.
  • Flowers year round
  • Highly versatile
  • Will not tolerate frost
  • Not as popular as it once was
  • Unique swollen blue-green to silver trunk
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Amorpha fruticosa
Multistemmed shrub that can form small thickets. Plant as a screen, hedge, or background plant.
  • Requires shade when young
  • Colorful older leaves
  • Symmetrical shape
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Bejaria racemosa
The scientific name Befaria racemosa was apparently an early transcription error. The genus is named after an 18th century Spanish botanist by the name of Bejar. Documented bees include Agapostemon splendens, Augochlorella aurata, A. gratiosa, Augochloropsis sumptuosa, Anthidiellum perplexum, Anthidium maculifrons, Megachile brevis pseudobrevis, M. mendica, M. petulans, Bombus impatiens and B. pennsylvanicus (Deyrup et al. 2002). Naturalistic settings. Conserve in residual natural settings if possible.
  • Uncommon
  • Medium stature
  • Beautiful purple-brown crownshaft
  • Attractive glossy leaves
  • Showy fall color
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Taxus floridana
This tree has male and female plants. Females have red berry-like cones. This species is extremely rare.  Be sure to obtain this plant from properly licensed nurseries. Use as a specimen plant either as a small tree or large shrub.
  • Magnificent showy flowers in summer
  • Hummingbird favorite
  • Distinctive-looking fruit with spiked exterior
  • Massive, nutrient-dense edible fruit
  • Unique foliage and silhouette
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Drypetes lateriflora
It is listed as Threatened by the state of Florida. Naturalistic landscapes.
  • Unique flowers, with petals like banana peels
  • Unique swollen blue-green to silver trunk
  • Easy/Carefree native
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Lupinus diffusus
Given that this is short-lived (biennial) and difficult to transplant or grow from seed, this is perhaps best encouraged in places where it grows naturally.  Minimizing competition from other plants, and perhaps burning the garden area, may be useful.  This plant appears to have a seedbank with seeds that may sprout over an extended period of years if conditions are right. The range of this plant in Florida appears to be disjunct though how much of this is due to site conditions and how much could be an artifact of forestry practices is unknown. Wildflower garden where it can be used as a specimen plant.
  • Very full crown
  • Attractive symmetrical appearance
  • Majestic and graceful
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Chasmanthium latifolium
Groundcover or border plant in shady areas.
  • Prominent pale green crownshaft
  • Produces aromatic flowers year-round
  • Prominent pale green or blue-gray crownshaft
  • Fragrant clusters of flowers in fall
  • Unusual deep green leaves with bronze underside
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Coccoloba diversifolia
Shade tree.  Narrow crown is said to make it a good choice for avenues, narrow entryways, and areas between houses.  Can be used as a large container plant.
  • Elegant and compact
  • Cornerstone plant in South Florida
  • Deciduous
  • Beautiful purple-brown crownshaft
  • Unique, sweet, almond-like flavor
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Rosa palustris
Information on salt tolerance comes from northern nurseries in areas where the biggest issue is likely to be salt used for deicing roadsides. This native rose is generally not susceptible to the disease and insect pests that attack many of the hybrid roses. It's a shrub; plant where its thorns will not be an issue.
  • Damaged by citrus canker
  • Massive stature when mature
  • Produces aromatic flowers year-round
  • Will not tolerate frost
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Rhabdadenia biflora
Grow on a trellis, but keep it fairly short to keep the flowers at a level where they will be enjoyed. Can be grown as a container plant.
  • Beautiful pinwheel flowers, often multicolored
  • Elegant, dense canopy
  • Does best in cooler areas of South Florida