General Landscape Uses:
Wildflower for naturalistic landscapes in wet areas.
Availability:
Available at native plant nurseries in central Florida.
Description: Wildflower with grasslike leaves six inches long with 2-3 foot tall flowering stems which branch near the top. Round heads of blue flowers one-half inch wide.
Dimensions: Typically 1-3 feet in height. Usually as broad as tall.
Growth Rate: Moderate.
Range:
Scattered along the eastern coast of the United States from New York south to Manatee, Hillsborough, Polk, Osceola, Indian River and Monroe counties.
Map of select IRC data from peninsular Florida.
Habitats: Marshes, swamps, wet pinelands
Soils: Wet to moist, seasonally inundated organic, sandy or calcareous soils, with or without humusy top layer.
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: Blue.
Flower Characteristics: Showy.
Flowering Season: Summer
Wildlife and Ecology: Attracts native bees and other beneficial insects.
References: Hall (
2020), Hammer (
2016)
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. The common name comes from Native American use of this plant to treat rattlesnake bites. See also the Florida Wildflower Foundation's
Flower Friday page.
