| Keys ageratum
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| Ageratum maritimum
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| Asteraceae
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Landscape Uses:
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Wildflower or rock gardens in the Florida Keys. |
Ecological Restoration Notes: |
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A somewhat rare element of coastal hammock edges and thickets. |
| Availability: |
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Available at native plant nurseries in central Florida. Available in Lake Worth at Amelia's SmartyPlants (561-540-6296). |
| Description: |
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Small to medium wildflower. |
| Height: |
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Typically 10-15 inches in height. Sprawling and usually broader than tall. |
| Growth Rate: |
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Moderate. |
| Range: |
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Monroe County Keys; Cuba, Grand Cayman and Belize. In the Monroe County Keys, apparently absent to the north of Windley Key. |
| Habitats: |
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Coastal hammocks and thickets. |
| Soils: |
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Moist, well-drained limestone or calcareous sandy soils, with or without humusy top layer. |
| Nutritional Requirements: |
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Moderate; can grow in nutrient poor soils, but needs some organic content to thrive. |
| Salt Water Tolerance: |
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Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water. |
| Salt Wind Tolerance: |
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High; can tolerate moderate amounts of salt wind without significant injury. |
| Drought Tolerance: |
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Moderate to high; plants growing in extremely dry soils may die during extended periods of drought. |
| Light Requirements: |
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Full sun. |
| Flower Color: |
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Heads bright blue. |
| Flower Characteristics: |
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Showy, 1/4" wide. |
| Flowering Season: |
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All year. |
| Fruit: |
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Inconspicuous achene. |
| Wildlife and Ecology: |
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| Horticultural Notes: |
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Can be grown from seed. |
| Comments: |
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It is listed as endangered by the state of Florida. |
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