Although drought-tolerant, this shrub/small tree may benefit from a few deep, thorough soakings during extremely dry periods. When young, it tends to be multi-trunked, so if a tree form is desired, pruning is required. Very briefly deciduous. Although the range extends further north, it is best used in landscaping where temperatures do not drop below 20 degrees F. Good for barrier shrub and as wildlife thicket, also nice as specimen.

Shade tree. Screen along wetland edges. Street tree for use in parking lots and median strips. Many acres have been planted to attract bees for honey production.

Specimen plant, screen plant, understory tree/shrub.

Not much information is available on growing this species. Likely to be somewhat difficult to establish but very durable once established. Specimen plant. Retain if present on site.

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.  Please choose those that are appropriate for your area. Wildflower garden. All the species listed should grow well in garden settings. They are all grown for their showy flowers (most are yellow, though we do have one with small dark red ray flowers).

Based on the BONAP range map, this species is a "near endemic" -- it occurs only in the panhandle and a 3 counties in southern Alabama. At this time, the Florida Plant Atlas shows two outlying collections.  One (Alachua County) appears to have been removed by the herbarium that "has" the specimen, the other (St. Lucie County) is a 1980 literature citation with apparently no specimen.   Neither is shown on our map. Bog gardens, sunny areas with moist soil.  Only likely to be noticed when blooming.

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.

Depending on the weather, this may be either an annual or perennial in Florida. Informal gardens in wet sites.

Difficult to transplant. Clonal. May be used as a hedge and takes to pruning.

Low ground-hugging ground cover in restoration areas, in ditches, and on wetland edges.

Meadow or wildflower garden.

Night blooming, fragrant.

This is a primitive plant that produces spores. Typically grown as a curiosity in a shade garden or as an epiphyte. Sometimes grown as a container plant.

Fall foliage color is yellow. While used extensively as a street tree in the north, this fast growing species is relatively weak. Specimen tree. Frequently used as a street tree as tolerant of root disturbance. Fall color is yellow.

May be semi-parasitic on the roots of other plants which makes it challenging to grow. Best planted near a potential host such as an oak. May die back in winter in northern parts of its range, Hedge plant, wildlife plant. Large shrub which can be trained as a tree in the right conditions. Crown is narrow and irregular and the trunks and branches are crooked or twisting.

Wood is quite soft and weak.  This author had one break in a storm.  It did however resprout from low on the trunk and the sprout is now about 15 ft tal. Specimen tree.

Specimen plant, screen plantings, sometimes with unusual or weeping form.

There are three subspecies included in this description.  Together, they are found in all coastal counties of Florida and many inland ones.  As a grass, it is likely undercollected and it has likely been excluded by many agricultural practices, so at least one of these subspecies is potentially native throughout Florida.  Muhlenbergia capillaris var. capillaris is the subspecies that is most commonly available from nurseries. Hedge, specimen plant, mass planting

This forms clumps but does not form large clones, which means it will not take over a garden. Wildflower garden

Informal landscapes. Its growth form is to be scrambling in a thicket or climbing as a sprawlingg vine. Habitat restoration.

Keep it if you have it.