General Landscape Uses:
Foundation shrub in woodland settings.
Availability:
Grown by enthusiasts.
Description: Semievergreen thicket-forming shrub with 1-3 inch long leaves turning reddish purple in the fall. Tubular, urn-shaped white-pinkish flowers 1/2 inch long which hang down from spikes.
Dimensions: Usually 10 feet in height.
Range:
Eastern United States from Massachusetts south and west along the coast to Texas. South through Florida to Polk and Osceola 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: Acidic swamps.
Soils: Wet to moist, poorly-drained to seasonally inundated organic freshwater soils, with a humusy top layer and acidic pH.
Nutritional Requirements: High; requires rich organic soils for optimal growth.
Salt Water Tolerance: Low; requires moist to wet soils and is intolerant of long periods of drought.
Salt Wind Tolerance: Low; salt wind may burn the leaves.
Drought Tolerance: Low; requires moist to wet soils and is intolerant of long periods of drought.
Light Requirements: Light shade to full sun.
Flower Color: White-pinkish
Flower Characteristics: Showy.
Flowering Season: Late spring.
Fruit: Dry pods.
Horticultural Notes: Forms colonies by suckers.
References: Hall (
2020), Mellichamp (
2014)
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.
