Saltmarsh-elder, Bigleaf sumpweed
|
Iva frutescens
|
Asteraceae
|
Landscape Uses:
|
|
Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations. |
Ecological Restoration Notes: |
|
|
Availability: |
|
Grown by one or two native plant nurseries in South Florida. |
Description: |
|
Medium shrub with erect stems. Leaves succulent, semi-deciduous. |
Height: |
|
From 3-10 feet tall. Colonial, forming large patches. |
Growth Rate: |
|
Fast. |
Range: |
|
Eastern and southeastern United States west to Texas and south to Miami-Dade and Collier counties. Not recorded for southeastern Florida except for a single Miami-Dade County collection made by John Kunkell Small and J.J. Carter on Virginia Key in 1906. |
Habitats: |
|
Coastal marshes. |
Soils: |
|
Wet to moist, poorly-drained to inundated brackish soils. |
Nutritional Requirements: |
|
Moderate; can grow in nutrient poor soils, but needs some organic content to thrive. |
Salt Water Tolerance: |
|
Moderate; tolerates brackish water or occasional inundation by salt water. |
Salt Wind Tolerance: |
|
Moderate; grows near salt water, but is protected from direct salt spray by other vegetation. |
Drought Tolerance: |
|
Low; requires moist to wet soils and is intolerant of long periods of drought. |
Light Requirements: |
|
Full sun to light shade. |
Flower Color: |
|
Greenish-white. |
Flower Characteristics: |
|
Inconspicuous. |
Flowering Season: |
|
Summer-fall. |
Fruit: |
|
Inconspicuous achene. |
Wildlife and Ecology: |
|
Provides some food and moderate amounts of cover for wildlife. |
Horticultural Notes: |
|
Can be grown from seed or cuttings. |
Comments: |
|
|
|
|
|
|