Tall elephant’s-foot
Elephantopus elatus
Asteraceae


Landscape Uses:

Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations. Also wildflower gardens.

Ecological Restoration Notes:

Availability:
Grown by one or two native plant nurseries in South Florida.
Description:
Small to medium herbaceous wildflower.
Height:
Basal rosette about 2-4 inches in height; to 18 inches when in flower. Broader than tall except when in flower.
Growth Rate:
Moderate.
Range:
Southeastern United States south to northeastern Miami-Dade and Collier counties.
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:
Bluish purple.
Flower Characteristics:
Semi-showy.
Flowering Season:
Summer-fall.
Fruit:
Inconspicuous achene.
Wildlife and Ecology:
Horticultural Notes:
Can be grown from seed.
Comments:
See also the Florida Wildflower Foundation's Flower Friday page.


Shirley Denton
Shirley Denton
Shirley Denton
Mary Keim
Susan Lerner, cultivated at Pan's Garden, Town of Palm Beach, Florida, USA.
Susan Lerner, cultivated at Pan's Garden, Town of Palm Beach, Florida, USA.
Susan Lerner, cultivated at Pan's Garden, Town of Palm Beach, Florida, USA.