General Landscape Uses:
Wildflower or rock gardens in the Florida Keys.
Ecological Restoration Notes: A somewhat rare element of coastal hammock edges and thickets.
Availability:
Available at native plant nurseries in central Florida. Available in Lake Worth at
Amelia's SmartyPlants (561-540-6296).
Description: Small to medium wildflower.
Dimensions: Typically 10-15 inches in height. Sprawling and usually broader than tall.
Growth Rate: Moderate.
Range:
Monroe County Keys; Cuba, Grand Cayman and Belize. In the Monroe County Keys, apparently absent to the north of Windley Key.
Map of select IRC data from peninsular Florida.
Map of suggested ZIP codes from South Florida north to southern Brevard, Osceola, Polk, and Pasco counties.
Map of ZIP codes with habitat recommendations from the Monroe County Keys north to Martin and Charlotte counties.
Habitats: Coastal hammocks and thickets.
Soils: Moist, well-drained limestone or calcareous sandy soils, with or without humusy top layer.
Nutritional Requirements: Moderate; can grow in nutrient poor soils, but needs some organic content to thrive.
Salt Water Tolerance: Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance: High; can tolerate moderate amounts of salt wind without significant injury.
Drought Tolerance: Moderate to high; plants growing in extremely dry soils may die during extended periods of drought.
Light Requirements: Full sun.
Flower Color: Heads bright blue.
Flower Characteristics: Showy, 1/4" wide.
Flowering Season: All year.
Fruit: Inconspicuous achene.
Horticultural Notes: Can be grown from seed.
References: Hammer 2004.
Comments: It is listed as endangered by the state of Florida.
