Natives For Your Neighborhood
Conservation of rare plants, animals, and ecosystems

General Landscape Uses: Wildflower gardens.

Availability: Widely available in central Florida. Commonly available at native plant nurseries in northeast and South Florida. Available in Lake Worth at Indian Trails Native Nursery and at Amelia's SmartyPlants (561-540-6296)., in Boynton Beach at Sustainscape (561-245-5305), and in Groveland at Green Isle Gardens (321-436-4932).

Description: Medium to large herbaceous wildflower.

Dimensions: About 2-4 feet in height. Generally taller than broad.

Growth Rate: Fast.

Range: Generally considered native to the southeastern United States and tropical America; now widely cultivated and naturalized in the tropics and subtropics.

 Map of select IRC data from peninsular Florida.

 Map of Postal Code Areas of IRC data from peninsular Florida.

Habitats: Hammocks and disturbed sites, including along the coast.

Soils: Moist, well-drained sandy soils, with humusy top layer.

Nutritional Requirements: Moderate; can grow in nutrient poor soils, but needs some organic content to thrive.

Salt Water Tolerance: Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water.

Salt Wind Tolerance: High; can tolerate moderate amounts of salt wind without significant injury.

Drought Tolerance: High; does not require any supplemental water once established.

Light Requirements: Full sun to light shade.

Flower Color: Red.

Flower Characteristics: Showy.

Flowering Season: All year; peak in spring.

Fruit: Inconspicuous nutlet.

Wildlife and Ecology: Nectar plant for butterflies and hummingbirds. Provides nectar, seeds and insects for other birds.

Horticultural Notes: Can be grown from seed.

Comments: See also the Florida Wildflower Foundation's Flower Friday page.