General Landscape Uses:
Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations. It can also be used as an accent shrub in moist sunny areas. It is also useful in buffer plantings.
Ecological Restoration Notes: Extirpated in South Florida. Recommended for reintroduction.
Availability:
Grown by one or two native plant nurseries in South Florida.
Description: Medium bushy shrub.
Dimensions: Typically 3-6 feet in height.
Growth Rate: Fast.
Range:
South Florida, West Indies and Mexico (Yucatan peninsula); in South Florida historically known only from the Brickell Hammock area near modern-day downtown Miami.
Map of select IRC data from peninsular Florida.
Habitats: Hammock edges and thickets.
Soils: Moist, well-drained limestone soils, with or without humus.
Nutritional Requirements: Moist, well-drained limestone soils, with or without humusy top layer.
Salt Water Tolerance: Low; does not tolerate flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance: High; can tolerate moderate amounts of salt wind without significant injury.
Drought Tolerance: High; does not require any supplemental water once established.
Light Requirements: Full sun.
Flower Color: White
Flower Characteristics: Semi-showy heads; fragrant.
Flowering Season: Fall.
Fruit: Inconspicuous achene, but fruiting masses can be semi-showy.
Wildlife and Ecology: Provides some food and significant cover for wildlife. Nectar from the male flowers attacts pollinators and the seeds are dispersed by wind.
Horticultural Notes: Presumably can be grown from seed and cuttings.
