Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations.
Ecological Restoration Notes:
A somewhat rare understory element of strand swamps and other wetlands.
Availability:
Grown by enthusiasts.
Description:
Large herbaceous wildflower.
Dimensions:
Typically 3-6 feet in height. About as broad as tall.
Growth Rate:
Moderate.
Range:
Widespread in North America south to Broward and Collier counties. Very rare in Broward County; known only from Water Conservation Area 3A and Tree Tops Park.
Habitats:
Swamps and marshes.
Soils:
Wet, poorly-drained organic soils.
Nutritional Requirements:
High; requires rich organic soils for optimal growth.
Salt Water Tolerance:
Low; does not tolerate flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance:
Low; salt wind may burn the leaves.
Drought Tolerance:
Low; requires moist to wet soils and is intolerant of long periods of drought.
Light Requirements:
Full sun.
Flower Color:
White.
Flower Characteristics:
Semi-showy inflorescence.
Flowering Season:
Summer-fall.
Fruit:
Pair of inconspicuous carpels pendent from a supporting axis.
Wildlife and Ecology:
Larval host plant for black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) butterflies.
Comments:
DANGER! This plant is extremely poisonous to humans and pets if ingested.
Gann, G.D., M.E. Abdo, J.W. Gann, G.D. Gann, Sr., S.W.
Woodmansee, K.A. Bradley, E. Verdon and K.N. Hines. 2005-2008. Natives For Your Neighborhood. http://www.regionalconservation.org.
The Institute for Regional Conservation, Miami.