General Landscape Uses:
Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations. Because it is weedy and easily spread it is not recommended for general landscape use.
Ecological Restoration Notes: Although rare, it is typically weedy in disturbed sites undergoing restoration.
Availability:
Rarely grown by enthusiasts.
Description: Small perennial herbaceous wildflower.
Dimensions: About 1-3 feet in height, sometimes scrambling higher in other vegetation.
Growth Rate: Fast.
Range:
Peninsular Florida, primarlity along the coast; Bahamas.
Map of select IRC data from peninsular Florida.
Habitats: Beach dunes and coastal strand.
Soils: Moist, well-drained sandy soils, without a humusy top layer.
Salt Water Tolerance: Moderately low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water, but tolerates short term inunation by salt water from storm surge with minimal damage.
Salt Wind Tolerance: Secondary line; tolerates significant salt wind without injury, but usually is somewhat protected.
Drought Tolerance: High; does not require any supplemental water once established.
Light Requirements: Full sun.
Flower Color: Yellow.
Flower Characteristics: Showy.
Flowering Season: All year.
References: Hammer 2004
Comments: All parts of the plant are covered with tiny sticky hooks that easily attach themselves to clothing and even bare skin.
