| Inkberry, Beachberry, Gullfeed
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| Scaevola plumieri
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| Goodeniaceae
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Landscape Uses:
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Accent shrub in open coastal areas. |
Ecological Restoration Notes: |
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| Availability: |
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Available at native plant nurseries in central and South Florida. Available in in Boynton Beach at Sustainscape (561-245-5305). |
| Description: |
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Small shrub with succulent leaves and trailing stems. Leaves thick, dark green. |
| Height: |
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About 2-5 feet in height. Usually broader than tall. |
| Growth Rate: |
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Slow. |
| Range: |
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Monroe County Keys north to Brevard, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties; West Indies, Mexico, South America, Galapagos and Old World tropics. Rare in the Monroe County Keys; now migrating to the north along the coasts. |
| Habitats: |
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Beach dunes, coastal strand and coastal grasslands. |
| Soils: |
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Moist, well-drained sandy or limestone soils, without humus. |
| Nutritional Requirements: |
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Low; it grows in nutrient poor soils. |
| 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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Frontline; grows in direct salt wind but away from constant salt spray. |
| Drought Tolerance: |
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High; does not require any supplemental water once established. |
| Light Requirements: |
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Full sun. |
| Flower Color: |
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White to pinkish white. |
| Flower Characteristics: |
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Semi-showy. One-sided, appearing like a flower cut in half. |
| Flowering Season: |
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All year; peak in summer. |
| Fruit: |
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Black ovoid drupe. All year. |
| Wildlife and Ecology: |
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Provides significant food and moderate amounts of cover for wildlife. |
| Horticultural Notes: |
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Can be grown from seed and division (rooted stems). |
| Comments: |
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It is listed as threatened by the state of Florida. |
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