|                    Beach-elder, Seacoast marshelder
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                |                    Iva imbricata  
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                |                    Asteraceae 
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                 Landscape Uses:
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                 Groundcover in open, coastal uplands. | 
               
                Ecological Restoration Notes:  | 
               
              
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                 An important sand binder in coastal uplands througout South Florida. | 
               
              
                | Availability: | 
               
              
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                 Commonly available at native plant nurseries in central Florida. Available at native plant nurseries in South Florida. Available in Boynton Beach at Sustainscape (561-245-5305). | 
               
              
                | Description: | 
               
              
                |   | 
                 Small shrub with spreading branches.  Leaves light green, succulent and smooth. | 
               
              
                | Height: | 
               
              
                |   | 
                 Typically 2-3 feet in height.  Spreading and becoming much broader than tall. | 
               
              
                | Growth Rate: | 
               
              
                |   | 
                 Fast. | 
               
              
                | Range: | 
               
              
                |   | 
                 Southeastern United States west to Texas and south to the Monroe County Keys; Bahamas and Cuba.  Rare and scatted in the Monroe County Keys. | 
               
              
                | Habitats: | 
               
              
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                 Beach dunes, coastal strand and coastal grasslands. | 
               
              
                | Soils: | 
               
              
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                 Moist, well-drained sandy soils, without humus. | 
               
              
                | Nutritional Requirements: | 
               
              
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                 Low; it grows in nutrient poor soils. | 
               
              
                | Salt Water Tolerance: | 
               
              
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                 Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water. | 
               
              
                | Salt Wind Tolerance: | 
               
              
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                 Pioneer; grows in unconsolidated substrate in direct salt wind and spray. | 
               
              
                | Drought Tolerance: | 
               
              
                |   | 
                 High; does not require any supplemental water once established. | 
               
              
                | Light Requirements: | 
               
              
                |   | 
                 Full sun. | 
               
              
                | Flower Color: | 
               
              
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                 Green. | 
               
              
                | Flower Characteristics: | 
               
              
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                 Inconspicuous. | 
               
              
                | Flowering Season: | 
               
              
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                 Summer-fall. | 
               
              
                | Fruit: | 
               
              
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                 Inconspicuous yellowish-brown achenes in globular clusters. | 
               
              
                | Wildlife and Ecology: | 
               
              
                |   | 
                 A principal sand binder in the pioneer zone of beach dunes. | 
               
                     
                | Horticultural Notes: | 
               
              
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                 Can be grown from seed or cuttings. | 
               
              
                | Comments: | 
               
              
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                 It roots along the stems when covered with sand. | 
               
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