General Landscape Uses:
Low massing shrub. Wildflower gardens.
Availability:
Occasionally available at
Mesozoic Landscapes, Inc. in Lake Worth and available at
Indian Trails Native Nursery in Lake Worth (561-641-9488).
Description: Woody groundcover or small shrub with short erect stems. Leaves 4 inches long, leathery, dark green.
Dimensions: About 1-5 feet in height. Spreading from underground stems and forming large open or dense patches.
Growth Rate: Very slow.
Range:
Southeastern United States south to the Monroe County Keys. In the Monroe County Keys, disjunct from Miami-Dade County to the pine rocklands of Big Pine Key.
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 coastal thickets.
Soils: Moist to dry, well-drained sandy or 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: High; can tolerate moderate amounts of salt wind without significant injury.
Drought Tolerance: High; does not require any supplemental water once established.
Light Requirements: Full sun to light shade.
Flower Color: Creamy white.
Flower Characteristics: Semi-showy in terminal clusters.
Flowering Season: All year; peak spring-summer.
Fruit: Elliptical drupe. Edible.
Wildlife and Ecology: Provides significant food and some cover for wildlife. The flowers attract bees and butterflies. The fruits are highly attractive to wildlife.
Horticultural Notes: Can be grown from seed.
References: Nelson 2003, Schaefer & Tanner 1997
Comments: See also the Florida Wildflower Foundation's
Flower Friday page.
