General Landscape Uses:
Moist wildflower gardens.
Availability:
Widely available in central Florida. Available at native plant nurseries in northeast Florida.
Description: Erect, perennial wildflower 2-4 feet tall with spikes of showy, scarlet flowers.
Dimensions: Typically 2-4 feet in height.
Range:
Eastern, central, and southwestern United States south to Hillsborough, Polk, Orange, and Volusia 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: Floodplains, swamps.
Soils: Wet to moist, moderately well-drained to poorly-drained organic or sandy soils, often with acid pH.
Nutritional Requirements: High; requires rich organic soils for optimal growth.
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: Low; requires moist to wet soils and is intolerant of long periods of drought.
Light Requirements: Full sun to light shade.
Flower Color: Scarlet.
Flower Characteristics: Showy.
Flowering Season: July-November.
Fruit: Pods with tiny seeds.
Wildlife and Ecology: Pollinated by hummingbirds.
References: Hall (
2020), Hammer (
2016)
Comments: Toxicity is unknown but death has occurred from overdoses of related species. We are currently adding data for this species for central and northern Florida. 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.
