Conradina canescensIdentification
Family: Lamiaceae (Mints) Form: Woody shrub Leaf shape: Needles Leaf color: Silvery green or grayish-green Flower color: Lavender or bluish-white Flower shape: Small and lipped with 2-3 rays, lower lip has 2 dark spots Location Native range: Florida, Alabama, Mississippi Habitats: Coastal plains, Coastal scrub Lifespan: Evergreen Soil type: Sandy Exposure: Full sun Description Look for small, lavender flowers from March to November. ID this plant by its oppositely arranged needle-like leaves that have a silvery or grayish-green color, woody stem, and bushy structure. This plant’s silver-ish hue comes from a very fine, white hair covering its flowers and leaves. False rosemary is also known as Scrub mint or Beach rosemary, because it helps stabilize sand dunes. Crush up a few needles in your hand for a minty smell. This plant also attracts a variety of pollinators, especially bees.
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Carphephorus corymbosusIdentification
Family: Asteraceae (Daisies) Form: Herbaceous flower Leaf shape: Oblong Leaf color: Green Flower color: Bright purple or pink Flower shape: Tubular disk florets Location Native range: Florida, Georgia, & South Carolina Habitats: Sandhills, Dry prairies, Pine flatwoods, Disturbed sites Lifespan: Perennial Soil type: Sandy Exposure: Full Sun Description Look for these bright purple wildflowers in bloom from September to November. ID this plant by its 2 to 3 foot stiff, upright stem covered in tiny hair and its flat, succulent basal leaves and alternating sessile stem leaves. Florida paintbrush, also known as Coastal Plain Chaffhead, attracts a wide variety of pollinators. Look for butterflies, moths, and pollinating flies while this plant is in bloom. Florida paintbrush thrives in sandy soil and is native to sandhills, dry prairies, and pine flatwoods. It can also be found in a variety of disturbed sites such as roadsides and in residential areas. ERAGROSTIS ELLIOTTIIdentification
Family: Poaceae (Grasses) Form: Clumping Leaf shape: Long, thin, stiff flat blades Leaf color: Tan, gray, or light beige Flower color: Cream Flower shape: Tiny and panicle (loosely branching) Location Native range: Throughout florida Habitats: Flatwoods, Sandhills, Prairies, Disturbed Sites Lifespan: Perennial Soil type: Sandy Exposure: Full Sun Description This is one of the two species of lovegrass you will see in the native plant garden. ID this plant by its clumped growth, long, thin, arching blades, and light brown, beige, or white hue. Elliott's lovegrass is native to prairies and flatwoods and thrives in sandy soil. Notice the tiny, cream-colored flowers from October to November. Look for tiny seeds that are a food source for small birds and insects. This plant is one of the primary hosts of the Zabulon skipper, a butterfly with orange triangular wings and dark brown margins whose caterpillars will appear green or brown with a pink hue. Elliott’s lovegrass was named after Stephen Elliott (1771-1830), an American botanist, legislator, and author who characterized southeastern flora in the United States. Salvia coccineaIdentification
Family:Lamiaceae (Mints) Form: Herbaceous Leaf shape: Roughly triangular or rounded hearts Leaf color: Green Flower color: Bright red, uncommonly pink or white Flower shape: tubular Location Native range: Southeastern USA and Mexico Habitats: Coastal and disturbed areas Lifespan: Perennial (warm climates) or Annual (winter temps below freezing) Soil type: Medium to dry sandy soil Exposure: Part shade to full sun Description Look for showy, bright red tubular flowers year round. ID this plant by looking for green, rounded heart shaped leaves with a hairy, square stem. Red salvia is also known as scarlet sage, bloody sage, or tropical sage. This plant grows throughout Mexico and the southeastern United states in coastal and disturbed sites, and its showy flowers make it a popular ornamental. Crushed stems and leaves will smell like sage or grassy. Salvia attracts a variety of pollinators, most notably hummingbirds who make use of the flower's tubular shape. Plants can grow tw to six feet tall. While red salvia is related to and looks similar to pineapple sage (whose leaves are used in salads and to make tea) red salvia is not edible! Tradescantia ohiensisOhio Spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis)
Identification Family: Commelinaceae (Spiderworts) Form: Herbaceous flower, clumping Leaf shape: Long, folded lengthwise along midrib Leaf color: Green with slight blue tinge Flower color: Deep blue to light purple, occasionally reddish-purple Flower shape: Showy, salverform (petals at 90 degree angles, looks ‘flat’),with 3 rounded petals with blunted points, up to 1 in Location Native range: widespread, central and eastern north america (Continental USA and Canada) Habitats: Disturbed sites, Meadows, Margins Lifespan: Perennial Soil type: Sandy or Averaged to well-drained Exposure: Part shade to full sun Description Look for 2 foot clumps of grassy leaves with long, leggy stems. Between May and July look for showy, light purple or blue flowers with three petals and dark purple filaments. Ohio spiderwort is also commonly known as Bluejacket and Smooth Spiderwort. This plant commonly grows in disturbed sites and can be found across central and eastern North America. Tradescantia species tend to hybridize easily where their ranges cross. The genus Tradescantia was named after John Tradescant, who was a botanist and gardener for King Charles I of England. Juice from torn leaves can help soothe mosquito bites and scratches and leaves and flowers are edible raw. Whether you're just getting started learning about native plants or if you're an expert on Florida natives, there's a lot of great resources available to learn about the benefits of gardening with natives and how you can start incorporating native plants into your yard! Here's a list of recommended websites and organization you can look into for more information. The Florida Native Plant Society is a great all-around resource for landscaping with natives, growing specific plants, and finding ethical nurseries! This page on the FWC website provides information on landscaping for wildlife as well as identifying and conserving pollinators, birds, and other wildlife. The Florida Wildflower Foundation has information on cultivating native flowers and attracting pollinators.
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