Natives For Your Neighborhood
Conservation of rare plants, animals, and ecosystems

General Landscape Uses: Wildflower and butterfly host plant.

Availability: Grown by enthusiasts.

Description: Slender herb 2 feet tall with hairy leaves 2-4 inches long. Greenish white flowers in large clumps.

Dimensions: Typically 2 feet in height.

Range: Central and southeastern United States south to Sarasota and De Soto counties.

 Map of select IRC data from peninsular Florida.

Habitats: Sandhills and dunes

Soils: Moist, well-drained sandy soils, without humus.

Salt Water Tolerance: Low; does not tolerate long-term 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: High; does not require any supplemental water once established.

Light Requirements: Full sun.

Flower Color: Greenish white

Flower Characteristics: Showy.

Flowering Season: April-August.

Wildlife and Ecology: Larval host plant for monarch (Danaus plexippus) butterflies; also a nectar source for butterflies

Horticultural Notes: Winter dormant.

References: Hammer (2016), Taylor (1998

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. See also the Florida Wildflower Foundation's Flower Friday page and Monarchs & Milkweed flyer.