Sidebeak pencilflower
Stylosanthes biflora
Fabaceae


Landscape Uses:

Wildflower gardens, borders, groundcover.

Ecological Restoration Notes:

Availability:
Rarely grown by native plant nurseries.
Description:
Perennial with stems lying flat or erect, 6-24 inches long. Leaves with 3 leaflets each 0.5-1.5 inches long. Quarter-inch pea-like yellow flowers.
Height:
Typically 6-24 inches in height, as broad as tall.
Growth Rate:
Fast.
Range:
Southern United States south to Hillsborough, Polk, and Volusia counties.
Habitats:
Sandhills and hammocks.
Soils:
Moist to dry, well-drained sandy soils, with or without humus.
Nutritional Requirements:
Moderate to low; it prefers soils with organic content, but will still grow reasonably well in nutrient poor soils.
Salt Water Tolerance:
Low; does not tolerate flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance:
Moderate; grows near salt water, but is protected from direct salt spray by other vegetation.
Drought Tolerance:
Moderate; generally requires moist soils, but tolerant of short periods of drought once established.
Light Requirements:
Full sun to light shade.
Flower Color:
Yellow.
Flower Characteristics:
Inconspicuous.
Flowering Season:
Spring and summer.
Fruit:
Wildlife and Ecology:
Larval host for the barred yellow (Eurema daira) butterfly.
Horticultural Notes:
Comments:
We have been adding data for this species for central and northern Florida and welcome any feedback or review. If you would like to contribute information or images, please contact George Gann via the IRC staff page.


Shirley Denton
Shirley Denton