|                    Florida rosemary, Sand heath
                      |  
              
                |                    Ceratiola ericoides  
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                |                    Empetraceae 
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                 Landscape Uses:
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                 Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations. | 
               
                Ecological Restoration Notes:  | 
               
              
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                 A common element of scrub nearly throughout South Florida. | 
               
              
                | Availability: | 
               
              
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                 Rarely grown by native plant nurseries. | 
               
              
                | Description: | 
               
              
                |   | 
                 Medium shrub with erect branches forming a large densely-branched mound.  Leaves needle-like, 1/2 inch long, dark green and aromatic, with an aroma of a conifer. | 
               
              
                | Height: | 
               
              
                |   | 
                 Typically 4-8 feet in height.  As broad as tall or sometimes broader. | 
               
              
                | Growth Rate: | 
               
              
                |   | 
                 Slow. | 
               
              
                | Range: | 
               
              
                |   | 
                 Southeastern United States south to Miami-Dade and Collier counties.  Extirpated in Miami-Dade County. | 
               
              
                | Habitats: | 
               
              
                |   | 
                 Scrub. | 
               
              
                | Soils: | 
               
              
                |   | 
                 Dry, well-drained sandy soils, without humus. | 
               
              
                | Nutritional Requirements: | 
               
              
                |   | 
                 Low; it grows in nutrient poor soils. | 
               
              
                | Salt Water Tolerance: | 
               
              
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                 Low; does not tolerate flooding by salt or brackish water. | 
               
              
                | Salt Wind Tolerance: | 
               
              
                |   | 
                 Low; salt wind may burn the leaves. | 
               
              
                | Drought Tolerance: | 
               
              
                |   | 
                 High; does not require any supplemental water once established. | 
               
              
                | Light Requirements: | 
               
              
                |   | 
                 Full sun. | 
               
              
                | Flower Color: | 
               
              
                |   | 
                 Brownish-red to yellowish. | 
               
              
                | Flower Characteristics: | 
               
              
                |   | 
                 Inconspicuous. | 
               
              
                | Flowering Season: | 
               
              
                |   | 
                 Spring-summer. | 
               
              
                | Fruit: | 
               
              
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                 Small round greenish-yellow or red berry, containing a single seed. | 
               
              
                | Wildlife and Ecology: | 
               
              
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                 Provides some food and cover for wildlife. | 
               
                     
                | Horticultural Notes: | 
               
              
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                | Comments: | 
               
              
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