General Landscape Uses:
Wildflower and rock gardens.
Availability:
Grown by enthusiasts.
Description: Prostrate herbaceous or semi-woody wildflower.
Dimensions: About 3-6 inches in height. Stems spreading to 3 feet long or sometimes more.
Growth Rate: Moderate to fast.
Range:
Endemic to South Florida from Miami-Dade County and the Monroe County mainland north and west to Collier and Hendry counties. Very rare or absent in Broward County; reported from but never vouchered at Hillsboro Pineland Natural Area. Briefly naturalized in Martin County, where not native.
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: Pinelands and prairies.
Soils: Moist, well-drained limestone soils, without humus.
Nutritional Requirements: Low; it grows in nutrient poor soils.
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: High; does not require any supplemental water once established.
Light Requirements: Full sun.
Flower Color: White or blushed with purplish-pink.
Flower Characteristics: Showy.
Flowering Season: All year; peak spring-fall.
Fruit: Inconspicuous capsule.
Wildlife and Ecology: Provides food for birds. Attracts bee and other insect pollinators.
References: Miami-Dade County Landscape Manual
(2005).
Comments: It is listed as threatened by the state of Florida.
