Copyright by: George D. Gann, 2014
In habitat, Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Florida
General Landscape Uses:
Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations. Also wildflower and butterfly gardens.
Availability:
Native plant nurseries in central and northern Florida.
Description: Small to medium herbaceous wildflower.
Dimensions: About 6-24 inches in height. About as broad as tall.
Growth Rate: Moderate.
Range:
Georgia and Florida south to Miami-Dade and Collier counties; northern Bahamas. Not documented on barrier islands in South Florida, but possibly historically present; it is cultivated at
Pan’s Garden in Palm Beach.
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: Pinelands.
Soils: Moist to dry, well-drained sandy soils, without humus.
Nutritional Requirements: Low; it grows in nutrient poor soils.
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: High; does not require any supplemental water once established.
Light Requirements: Full sun.
Flower Color: Light purplish.
Flower Characteristics: Showy.
Flowering Season: All year.
Fruit: An inconspicuous aggregate of nutlets.
Wildlife and Ecology: Nectar plant for butterflies.
References: Nelson 2003
Comments: See also the Florida Wildflower Foundation's
Flower Friday page.
