General Landscape Uses:
Groundcover.
Availability:
Available at native plant nurseries in northeast and central Florida.
Description: Small, trailing, evergreen perennial wildflower that roots along the stems and makes prostrate mats. Small, dark green leaves and hairy, white flowers.
Dimensions: Typically 1-2 inches in height, forming a small mat.
Growth Rate: Slow.
Range:
Eastern United States west to Texas and south to Sarasota, De Soto, Highlands, and Martin 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: Moist, woody sites and hammocks.
Soils: Moist, well-drained sandy or limestone soils, with humusy top layer.
Nutritional Requirements: Moderate; can grow in nutrient poor soils, but needs some organic content to thrive.
Salt Water Tolerance: Low; does not tolerate lonog-term flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance: Low; salt wind may burn the leaves.
Drought Tolerance: Moderate; generally requires moist soils, but tolerant of short periods of drought once established.
Light Requirements: Light shade to moderate shade.
Flower Color: White to pinkish.
Flower Characteristics: Showy.
Flowering Season: Spring to fall.
Fruit: Red berry.
Wildlife and Ecology: Provides food for wildlife.
References: Hall (
2020), Hammer (
2016)
Comments: 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.
