|                    Tarflower
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                |                    Bejaria racemosa  
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                |                    Ericaceae 
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                 Landscape Uses:
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                 Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations.  Also an accent shrub. | 
               
                Ecological Restoration Notes:  | 
               
              
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                 A fairly common shrub in a wide variety of flatwoods ecosystems. | 
               
              
                | Availability: | 
               
              
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                 Commonly available at native plant nurseries in central Florida. Available at native plant nurseries in northeast Florida. | 
               
              
                | Description: | 
               
              
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                 Medium to large shrub with erect branches.  Leaves thin, often with a hairy midrib, 1-2 inches long. | 
               
              
                | Height: | 
               
              
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                 Typically 4-8 feet, sometimes taller.  Sometimes as broad as tall. | 
               
              
                | Growth Rate: | 
               
              
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                 Moderate. | 
               
              
                | Range: | 
               
              
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                 Southeastern United States south to Miami-Dade and Collier counties.  In Miami-Dade County it has been reported as far south as the Little River area. | 
               
              
                | Habitats: | 
               
              
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                 Pinelands. | 
               
              
                | Soils: | 
               
              
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                 Moist, well-drained sandy soils, with or without humus. | 
               
              
                | Nutritional Requirements: | 
               
              
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                 Low to moderate; it can grow in nutrient poor soils or soils with some organic content. | 
               
              
                | Salt Water Tolerance: | 
               
              
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                 Low; does not tolerate flooding by salt or brackish water. | 
               
              
                | Salt Wind Tolerance: | 
               
              
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                 Low; salt wind may burn the leaves. | 
               
              
                | Drought Tolerance: | 
               
              
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                 High; does not require any supplemental water once established. | 
               
              
                | Light Requirements: | 
               
              
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                 Full sun to light shade. | 
               
              
                | Flower Color: | 
               
              
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                 Bright white, often tinged with pink. | 
               
              
                | Flower Characteristics: | 
               
              
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                 Semi-showy, in long terminal racemes.  Fragrant and sticky. | 
               
              
                | Flowering Season: | 
               
              
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                 Spring-fall. | 
               
              
                | Fruit: | 
               
              
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                 Rounded sticky capsule. | 
               
              
                | Wildlife and Ecology: | 
               
              
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                 Provides moderate amounts of food and significant cover for wildlife.  Bees and flies are attracted to the flowers, and are often caught on the sticky flowers. | 
               
                     
                | Horticultural Notes: | 
               
              
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                 Can be grown from seed. | 
               
              
                | Comments: | 
               
              
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                 This is a very ornamental shrub when in flower, and worthy of more attention by the native plant trade. See also the Florida Wildflower Foundation's  Flower Friday page.  | 
               
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                    James Johnson, 2014 In habitat, Hillsboro Pineland Natural Area, Broward County, Florida
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                    James Johnson, 2014 In habitat, Hillsboro Pineland Natural Area, Broward County, Florida Expand
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