General Landscape Uses:
Wildflower or specimen in wet areas.
Availability:
Available at native plant nurseries in northeast and central Florida.
Description: Large, erect perennial 5-6 feet tall with very flat white or creamy yellow flowers with a maroon eye.
Dimensions: Typically 5-6 feet in height.
Growth Rate: Fast.
Range:
Eastern and central United States south to Levy, Marion, Lake, St. Lucie, and Broward 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: Marshes and swamps.
Soils: Wet to moist, poorly-drained to seasonally inundated organic freshwater soils, with a humusy top layer.
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: Full sun to light shade.
Flower Color: White or pale creamy yellow.
Flower Characteristics: Showy.
Flowering Season: Summer.
Fruit: One inch dry, brown pods.
Wildlife and Ecology: Attracts pollinators. Larval host plant for Gray hairstreak (Strymon melinus), Painted lady (Vanessa cardui), Common checkered skipper (Burnsius communis) and Tropical checkered skipper (Burnsius oileus) butterflies
References: Wunderlin and Hansen (
2011), Osorio 2001
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.
