General Landscape Uses:
Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations.
Availability:
Grown by enthusiasts.
Description: Small to medium herb.
Dimensions: 2-4 inches; to 2 feet when in flower. Taller than broad when in flower.
Growth Rate: Moderate.
Range:
Eastern and southern North America west along the coasts to Texas and south along the coasts to the Monroe County Keys; northeastern Mexico.
Map of select IRC data from peninsular Florida.
Map of ZIP codes with habitat recommendations from the Monroe County Keys north to Martin and Charlotte counties.
Habitats: Tidal marshes and tidal swamps.
Soils: Wet to moist, poorly-drained to occasionally inundated brackish soils.
Nutritional Requirements: Moderate; can grow in nutrient poor soils, but needs some organic content to thrive.
Salt Water Tolerance: Moderate; tolerates brackish water or occasional inundation by salt water.
Salt Wind Tolerance: Moderate; grows near salt water, but is protected from direct salt spray by other vegetation.
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: Lavender with a white throat.
Flower Characteristics: Semi-showy small flowers in tall, open panicles.
Flowering Season: Spring-fall.
Fruit: Inconspicuous capsule.
References: Hammer 2004
Comments: The flowering panicles are dried for ornament and in the belief they repel moths.
