Chiococca alba is a Florida native shrub with a sprawling vinelike growth habit in the Coffee Family (Rubiaceae). It occurs in the coastal counties of Florida just south of the Panhandle all the way to Key West, growing in partial shade. Snowberry has somewhat fragrant yellow bell-shaped flowers providing nectar for butterflies and bees. The…
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Sisyrinchium angustifolium is native throughout the state of Florida. It occurs in moist meadows and open woodlands. Blue-eyed grass is an herbaceous perennial in the Iris Family so it is not a grass at all, although its foliage is grass-like. It has numerous violet-blue flowers from spring to early summer. It needs to be kept…
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Lignum vitae (Guaiacum sanctum) is native to the Florida Keys and Miami-Dade County. This native tree is listed as endangered due to habitat loss. Lignum vitae translation is ‘Tree of Life’ for its many medicinal properties. However, it is mainly grown as a beautiful ornamental. While it is slow growing, it is one of the…
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Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) is native to most of Florida’s coastal counties. It has become a popular landscape grass and is widely cultivated. It forms clumps 2-3 feet tall and up to 3 feet wide. It also seeds itself fairly easily forming additional plants. The pink color of its flower spikes blowing in the breeze…
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Mimosa strigillosa (Powderpuff or Sensitive Plant) is a wonderful groundcover which is relatively drought tolerant. It is native to Miami-Dade County and most of the counties north of Lake Okeechobee. The name ‘powderpuff’ is derived from the shape of its pink flowers resembling a powderpuff. The ‘sensitive plant’ comes from the fact its fern-like leaves…
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