General Landscape Uses:
An accent shrub along pond and lake edges.
Ecological Restoration Notes: A rather infrequent element in marshes and the edges of freshwater swamps.
Availability:
Grown by one or two native plant nurseries in South Florida. Available in Naples at
Everglades Native Designs.
Description: Medium erect shrub.
Dimensions: Typically 6-8 feet in height. Usually taller than broad.
Growth Rate: Moderate.
Range:
Southeastern United States west to Texas and south to Miami-Dade County and the Monroe County mainland.
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: Swamps, wet thickets and marshes.
Soils: Wet, moderately well-drained to poorly-drained organic soils.
Nutritional Requirements: High; requires rich organic soils for optimal growth.
Salt Water Tolerance: Low; does not tolerate flooding by salt or brackish water.
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: Full sun.
Flower Color: Light purple or pink with a dark purple or reddish-purple center.
Flower Characteristics: Showy.
Flowering Season: Spring-summer.
Fruit: Inconspicuous dry capsule.
Wildlife and Ecology: Flowers provide nectar for hummingbirds, orioles and other birds.
Horticultural Notes: Can be grown from seed.
References: Miami-Dade County Landscape Manual
(2005).
Comments: See also the Florida Wildflower Foundation's
Flower Friday page.
