Availability:
Rarely grown by native plant nurseries in northern Florida.
Description: Perennial wildflower up to 8 inches tall with 3 leaves, mottled light and dark green. Central flower with 3 petals, usually purple.
Dimensions: Up to eight inches in height.
Range:
Alabama, Georgia, Florida from Jackson to Columbia counties.
Map of select IRC data from peninsular Florida.
Habitats: 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: Light to moderate shade.
Flower Color: Purple.
Flower Characteristics: Showy.
Flowering Season: Late winter/early spring.
Fruit: Berry.
References: Wunderlin and Hansen (
2011), Taylor (
1998
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.
