Natives For Your Neighborhood
Conservation of rare plants, animals, and ecosystems

General Landscape Uses: Groundcover in open, coastal areas.

Ecological Restoration Notes: An important sand stabilizer in the pioneer zone of beach dunes which can tolerate occasional flooding by sea water.

Availability: Native plant nurseries. Available in Naples at Everglades Native Designs.

Description: Small prostrate herb.

Dimensions: About 3-8 inches in height. Spreading and forming large patches much broader than tal.

Growth Rate: Moderate to fast.

Range: Southeastern United States west to Texas and south to the Monroe County Keys; West Indies, Mexico, Central America, South America and Old World.

 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: Beach dunes and brackish coastal areas.

Soils: Wet to moist, periodically inundated brackish or saline soils, with or without organic or humusy top layer.

Nutritional Requirements: Low; it grows in nutrient poor soils.

Salt Water Tolerance: High; tolerates flooding by salt water.

Salt Wind Tolerance: Pioneer; grows in unconsolidated substrate in direct salt wind and spray.

Drought Tolerance: High; does not require any supplemental water once established.

Light Requirements: Full sun.

Flower Color: Sepals green on the outside, pink to pinkish-purple on the inside.

Flower Characteristics: Semi-showy. The petals are absent.

Flowering Season: All year.

Fruit: Inconspicuous capsule.

Wildlife and Ecology: Nectar plant for Miami blue (Cyclargus thomasi bethunebakeri) butterflies.

Horticultural Notes: Can be grown from seed and cuttings.

References: Hammer 2004, Nelson 2003

Comments: The succulent leaves are edible (although very salty) and have been used as a source of vitamin C. See also the Florida Wildflower Foundation's Flower Friday page.