General Landscape Uses:
Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations. Also wildflower and butterfly gardens.
Ecological Restoration Notes: A rare understory herb in pinelands.
Availability:
Widely available in central Florida. Available at
Indian Trails Native Nursery in Lake Worth (561-641-9488).
Description: Medium wildflower with erect slender stems; barely noticeable when not in flower.
Dimensions: Typically 2-3 feet in height. Taller than broad.
Growth Rate: Moderate.
Range:
Widespread in North America south to Miami-Dade and Collier counties.
Map of select IRC data from peninsular Florida.
Map of Postal Code Areas of IRC data from peninsular Florida.
Habitats: Pinelands.
Soils: Moist, well-drained sandy soils, without humus.
Nutritional Requirements: Low; it grows in nutrient poor soils.
Salt Water Tolerance: 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: Greenish-white or white.
Flower Characteristics: Semi-showy.
Flowering Season: Spring-summer.
Fruit: Slender pod (follicle) with wind dispersed seeds.
Wildlife and Ecology: Larval host for queen (Danaus gilippus) and possibly soldier (Danaus eresimus) butterflies. Nectar plant for monarch (Danaus plexippus) and other butterflies. Attracts native bees and other beneficial insects.
Horticultural Notes: Can be grown from seed.
Comments: See also the Florida Wildflower Foundation's
Flower Friday page and
Monarchs & Milkweed flyer.
