Keys ageratum
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Ageratum maritimum
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Asteraceae
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Landscape Uses:
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Wildflower or rock gardens in the Florida Keys. |
Ecological Restoration Notes: |
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A somewhat rare element of coastal hammock edges and thickets. |
Availability: |
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Available at native plant nurseries in central Florida. Available in Lake Worth at Amelia's SmartyPlants (561-540-6296). |
Description: |
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Small to medium wildflower. |
Height: |
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Typically 10-15 inches in height. Sprawling and usually broader than tall. |
Growth Rate: |
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Moderate. |
Range: |
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Monroe County Keys; Cuba, Grand Cayman and Belize. In the Monroe County Keys, apparently absent to the north of Windley Key. |
Habitats: |
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Coastal hammocks and thickets. |
Soils: |
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Moist, well-drained limestone or calcareous sandy soils, with or without humusy top layer. |
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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Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish 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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Moderate to high; plants growing in extremely dry soils may die during extended periods of drought. |
Light Requirements: |
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Full sun. |
Flower Color: |
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Heads bright blue. |
Flower Characteristics: |
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Showy, 1/4" wide. |
Flowering Season: |
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All year. |
Fruit: |
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Inconspicuous achene. |
Wildlife and Ecology: |
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Horticultural Notes: |
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Can be grown from seed. |
Comments: |
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It is listed as endangered by the state of Florida. |
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