St. Andrew’s-cross
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Hypericum hypericoides
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Hypericaceae
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Landscape Uses:
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Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations. Also wildflower gardens. |
Ecological Restoration Notes: |
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Availability: |
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Grown by enthusiasts and some native plant nurseries. |
Description: |
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Small shrubby wildflower. |
Height: |
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About 2-3 feet in height. About as broad as tall. |
Growth Rate: |
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Moderate. |
Range: |
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Eastern and central United States west to Kansas and Texas and south to the Monroe County Keys; West Indies, Mexico and Honduras. In the Monroe County Keys, known only from Big Pine Key in the lower Keys. |
Habitats: |
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Pinelands, hammocks and swamp margins. |
Soils: |
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Moist to seasonally wet, moderately well-drained sandy or limestone soils, with 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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Moderate; grows near salt water, but is protected from direct salt spray by other vegetation. |
Drought Tolerance: |
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Moderate; generally requires moist soils, but tolerant of short periods of drought once established. |
Light Requirements: |
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Full sun to light shade. |
Flower Color: |
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Yellow. |
Flower Characteristics: |
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Semi-showy. |
Flowering Season: |
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Summer-fall. |
Fruit: |
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Inconspicuous capsule. |
Wildlife and Ecology: |
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Provides some food and cover for wildlife. Attracts pollinators. |
Horticultural Notes: |
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Can be grown from seed. Harvest seed when mature, but before it becomes dried out. |
Comments: |
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See also the Florida Wildflower Foundation's Flower Friday page. |
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