|                    Marsh gentian, Seaside gentian, Catchfly prairie-gentian
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                |                    Eustoma exaltatum  
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                |                    Gentianaceae 
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                 Landscape Uses:
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                 Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations.  Also wildflower gardens. | 
               
                Ecological Restoration Notes:  | 
               
              
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                | Availability: | 
               
              
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                 Available at native plant nurseries in central Florida. | 
               
              
                | Description: | 
               
              
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                 Medium annual herbaceous wildlflower. | 
               
              
                | Height: | 
               
              
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                 About 1-3 feet in height.  Taller than broad. | 
               
              
                | Growth Rate: | 
               
              
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                 Fast. | 
               
              
                | Range: | 
               
              
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                 Southeastern, midwestern and western United States south to the Monroe County Keys; West Indies, Mexico, Central America and South America. | 
               
              
                | Habitats: | 
               
              
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                 Coastal wetlands. | 
               
              
                | Soils: | 
               
              
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                 Wet to moist, poorly-drained to occasionally inundated brackish or freshwater soils. | 
               
              
                | Nutritional Requirements: | 
               
              
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                 Moderate; can grow in nutrient poor soils, but needs some organic content to thrive. | 
               
              
                | Salt Water Tolerance: | 
               
              
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                 Moderate; tolerates brackish water or occasional inundation by salt water. | 
               
              
                | Salt Wind Tolerance: | 
               
              
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                 High; can tolerate moderate amounts of salt wind without significant injury. | 
               
              
                | Drought Tolerance: | 
               
              
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                 Low; requires moist to wet soils and is intolerant of long periods of drought. | 
               
              
                | Light Requirements: | 
               
              
                |   | 
                 Full sun. | 
               
              
                | Flower Color: | 
               
              
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                 Rose-purple or white with a dark purple center. | 
               
              
                | Flower Characteristics: | 
               
              
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                 Showy, 3/4" long. | 
               
              
                | Flowering Season: | 
               
              
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                 All year; peak December-August. | 
               
              
                | Fruit: | 
               
              
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                 An inconspicuous sticky capsule. | 
               
              
                | Wildlife and Ecology: | 
               
              
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                | Horticultural Notes: | 
               
              
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                 Can be grown from seed. | 
               
              
                | Comments: | 
               
              
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                 A very attractive wildflower. See also the Florida Wildflower Foundation's  Flower Friday page. | 
               
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                    Chuck McCartney, 1986   In habitat, Everglades National Park, Florida
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                    James Johnson, 2014 In habitat, Everglades National Park, Florida Expand
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                    James Johnson, 2014 In habitat, Everglades National Park, Florida
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                    James Johnson, 2014 In habitat, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Monroe County, Florida
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                    James Johnson, 2014 In habitat, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Monroe County, Florida
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