Inkberry, Beachberry, Gullfeed
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Scaevola plumieri
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Goodeniaceae
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Landscape Uses:
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Accent shrub in open coastal areas. |
Ecological Restoration Notes: |
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Availability: |
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Native plant nurseries. Available in in Boynton Beach at Sustainscape (561-245-5305). |
Description: |
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Small shrub with succulent leaves and trailing stems. Leaves thick, dark green. |
Height: |
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About 2-5 feet in height. Usually broader than tall. |
Growth Rate: |
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Slow. |
Range: |
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Monroe County Keys north to Brevard, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties; West Indies, Mexico, South America, Galapagos and Old World tropics. Rare in the Monroe County Keys; now migrating to the north along the coasts. |
Habitats: |
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Beach dunes, coastal strand and coastal grasslands. |
Soils: |
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Moist, well-drained sandy or limestone 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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Frontline; grows in direct salt wind but away from constant salt 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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White to pinkish white. |
Flower Characteristics: |
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Semi-showy. One-sided, appearing like a flower cut in half. |
Flowering Season: |
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All year; peak in summer. |
Fruit: |
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Black ovoid drupe. All year. |
Wildlife and Ecology: |
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Provides significant food and moderate amounts of cover for wildlife. |
Horticultural Notes: |
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Can be grown from seed and division (rooted stems). |
Comments: |
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It is listed as threatened by the state of Florida. |
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