General Landscape Uses:
Accent shrub.
Availability:
Native plant nurseries in central and northern Florida. Available in Lake Worth at
Amelia's SmartyPlants (561-540-6296).
Description: Medium erect shrub. Leaves shiny green.
Dimensions: About 6-8 feet in height. Usually about as broad as tall.
Growth Rate: Moderate.
Range:
Southeastern United States south to Miami-Dade and Collier 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.
Map of ZIP codes with habitat recommendations from the Monroe County Keys north to Martin and Charlotte counties.
Habitats: Pinelands and swamps.
Soils: Seasonally inundated to moist, well-drained sandy or sandy-organic soils, with humusy top layer, acid pH.
Nutritional Requirements: Moderate to low; it prefers soils with organic content, but will still grow reasonably well in nutrient poor soils.
Salt Water Tolerance: Low; does not tolerate flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance: Low; salt wind may burn the leaves.
Drought Tolerance: Moderate to high; plants growing in extremely dry soils may die during extended periods of drought.
Light Requirements: Full sun to light shade.
Flower Color: Pale to deep pinkish or almost red.
Flower Characteristics: Showy.
Flowering Season: Spring.
Fruit: Inconspicuous capsule.
Wildlife and Ecology: Provides some food and moderate amounts of cover for wildlife.
References: Nelson 2003, Schaefer & Tanner 1997
Comments: See also the Florida Wildflower Foundation's
Flower Friday page.
