General Landscape Uses:
Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations. Also wildflower gardens.
Availability:
Grown by enthusiasts and occasionally by native plant nurseries.
Description: Medium herbaceous wildflower.
Dimensions: 6-12 inches; 2-3 feet when in flower.
Growth Rate: Moderate.
Range:
Endemic to Florida from the Monroe County Keys north and west to the Florida Panhandle.
Map of select IRC data from peninsular Florida.
Habitats: Pinelands.
Soils: Moist to dry, well-drained sandy or limestone soils, without humus.
Nutritional Requirements: Low; it grows in nutrient poor soils.
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: High; does not require any supplemental water once established.
Light Requirements: Full sun.
Flower Color: Rose-purple.
Flower Characteristics: Showy flowering spikes.
Flowering Season: Summer-fall
Fruit: Inconspicuous achene.
Wildlife and Ecology: Nectar plant for butterflies. Attracts native bees and other beneficial insects. Valuable source of insects for birds.
Horticultural Notes: Can be grown from seed.
References: Hammer 2004
