Availability:
Rarely grown by native plant nurseries.
Description: Deciduous, clump-forming wildflower 3-4 feet tall, moderately spreading. Distinctly veined, floppy leaves 4-6 inches long. Small, tubular greenish-white flowers hidden beneath the leaves in clusters of three.
Dimensions: Typically 3-4 feet in height.
Range:
Eastern half of the United States from Vermont to North Dakota, south to eastern Texas and scattered through the panhandle and north Florida to Hernando and Lake 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 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 long-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: Moderate to light shade.
Flower Color: Greenish white.
Flower Characteristics: Inconspicuous.
Flowering Season: Late spring.
Fruit: Dark purple berries.
References: Mellichamp (
2014), Wunderlin and Hansen 2011
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.
