General Landscape Uses:
Short groundcover for moist areas.
Availability:
Widely available in central Florida. Available at native plant nurseries in northeast and South Florida. Available in Boynton Beach at
Sustainscape (561-245-5305).
Description: Perennial wildflower or groundcover 4-12 inches tall with two inch leaves and small violet flowers.
Dimensions: Up to one foot in height, slowly spreading as stems touch the ground and root.
Growth Rate: Moderate.
Range:
Southern Georgia through Central Florida to Hillsborough, Polk, Hardee, and De Soto 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.
Habitats: Moist to wet forests.
Soils: Moist to wet, well-drained sandy or limestone soils, with humusy top layer.
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: Light shade to full sun.
Flower Color: Violet
Flower Characteristics: Showy.
Flowering Season: Spring to summer.
Wildlife and Ecology: Larval host plant for the common buckeye (Junonia coenia) butterfly.
Horticultural Notes: Tolerates mowing and some foot traffic.
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.
