Beach-elder, Seacoast marshelder
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Iva imbricata
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Asteraceae
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Landscape Uses:
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Groundcover in open, coastal uplands. |
Ecological Restoration Notes: |
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An important sand binder in coastal uplands througout South Florida. |
Availability: |
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Native plant nurseries. Available in Boynton Beach at Sustainscape (561-245-5305). |
Description: |
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Small shrub with spreading branches. Leaves light green, succulent and smooth. |
Height: |
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Typically 2-3 feet in height. Spreading and becoming much broader than tall. |
Growth Rate: |
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Fast. |
Range: |
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Southeastern United States west to Texas and south to the Monroe County Keys; Bahamas and Cuba. Rare and scatted in the Monroe County Keys. |
Habitats: |
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Beach dunes, coastal strand and coastal grasslands. |
Soils: |
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Moist, well-drained sandy soils, without humus. |
Nutritional Requirements: |
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Low; it grows in nutrient poor soils. |
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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Pioneer; grows in unconsolidated substrate in direct salt wind and spray. |
Drought Tolerance: |
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High; does not require any supplemental water once established. |
Light Requirements: |
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Full sun. |
Flower Color: |
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Green. |
Flower Characteristics: |
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Inconspicuous. |
Flowering Season: |
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Summer-fall. |
Fruit: |
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Inconspicuous yellowish-brown achenes in globular clusters. |
Wildlife and Ecology: |
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A principal sand binder in the pioneer zone of beach dunes. |
Horticultural Notes: |
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Can be grown from seed or cuttings. |
Comments: |
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It roots along the stems when covered with sand. |
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