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General Landscape Uses:
Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations. Also wildflower and butterfly gardens.
Ecological Restoration Notes: An occasional but widespread understory herb in pinelands.
Availability:
Widely available in central Florida. Commonly available at native plant nurseries in South Florida. Available at native plant nurseries in northeast Florida. Available at Indian Trails Native Nursery in Lake Worth (561-641-9488) and in Groveland at Green Isle Gardens (321-436-4932).
Dimensions: Typically 1-2 feet in height. Usually taller than broad, but sometimes falling over and forming small patches.
Growth Rate: Moderate.
Range:
Widespread in North America south to Miami-Dade and Collier counties; northeastern Mexico. Not documented on barrier islands in South Florida, but possibly historically present; it is cultivated at Pan’s Garden in Palm Beach.
Soils: Moist, well-drained calcareous or 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: Red, orange or yellow.
Flower Characteristics: Showy.
Flowering Season: All year.
Fruit: Slender pod (follicle) with wind dispersed seeds.
Wildlife and Ecology: Larval host plant for monarch (Danaus plexippus) and rarely queen (Danaus gilippus) butterflies; possible larval host of soldier (Danaus eresimus) butterflies. Nectar plant for monarch (Danaus plexippus) and other butterflies. Attracts bees and other insects pollinators.
Horticultural Notes: Grown from seed, which may require chilling for a few weeks if fresh. Young plants are somewhat sensitive and should not be disturbed until established.
References: Miami-Dade County Landscape Manual (2005).
Map of select IRC data from peninsular Florida.
Map of suggested ZIP codes from South Florida north to southern Brevard, Osceola, Polk, and Pasco counties.
