General Landscape Uses:
Wildflower garden.
Availability:
Commonly available at native plant nurseries in central Florida. Available at native plant nurseries in northeast Florida.
Description: Perennial 1.5-4.5 feet tall with smooth stems and somewhat succulent leaves 4-20 inches long. Purple disk flowers in flat-topped arrays.
Dimensions: Up to 4 feet in height.
Range:
Southeastern United States south to the Brevard, Osceola, Lake, Sumpter, and Citrus counties.
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: Moist to wet flatwoods and prairies, swamp margins.
Soils: Moist to wet, moderately well-drained to poorly-drained organic or sandy soils, often with acid pH.
Salt Water Tolerance: Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance: Low; salt wind may burn the leaves.
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: Purple
Flower Characteristics: Showy.
Flowering Season: Summer to fall.
Wildlife and Ecology: Attracts native bees and other beneficial insect pollinators.
Horticultural Notes: Distinct vanilla odor.
References: Hall (
2020)
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.
