Plant List: M.E. DePalma Park Picture Botanical Name Common Name Salvia coccinea Tropical Sage (red) pink Attracts Butterflies, Hummingbirds and Painted Buntings Picture Botanical Name Common Name Muhlenbergia capillaris Florida Muhly Grass Blooms: Mid Summer - Fall Psychotria nervosa Wild Coffee -Summer Fruits: Fall Berries are a food source for birds Male Butterflies need the alkaloids found in this plant, in order to mature sexually. Callicarpa americana Beautyberry Blooms: late Summer Fruits: Fall Berries are a food source for birds Arachis glabrata Perennial peanut Native to Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay Gaillardia pulchella Blanket Flower Chrysobalanus icaco Cocoplum -Summer Fruits: Fall Berries are a food source for birds Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Blue Porterweed Asclepias curassavica Mexican Butterfly Weed, Blood-flower or Scarlet Milkweed for Butterflies especially Queens and Monarchs Monarch larval plant Pentas lanceolata Egyptian starflower These may be red, white, lavender, purple, or shades of pink. Some are two-toned. All are extremely attractive to butterflies, and the red and dark pink varieties delight hummingbirds. Butterfly nectar plant
Mimosa strigillosa Sensitive Plant groundcover Coreopsis_leavenworthii Tickseed Loropetalum Chinese Fringe Flower Native to Japan and southeastern Asia including southern China. Coreopsis lanceolata Lance leafed coreopsis Lantana involucrata. Buttonsage. differs from the invasive, non-native L. camara by having only white (not multicolored) flowers like L. camara. Scutellaria havanensis Havana Skullcap Blooms: Intermittent listed as endangered by the state of FL Heliotropium polyphyllum Pineland Heliotrope Crossopetalum illicifolium Quail berry Fruits: Fall Mocking Birds & Butterflies Sisyrinchum atlanticum Eastern Blue Eyed Grass Blooms: Fall Liatris chapmanii Chapman's gayfeather Rudbeckia hirta Black-eyed Susan Liatris spicata Dense Blazing star
Eragrostis-elliottii Silver lovegrass Eragrostis-spectabilis Purple lovegrass Flaveria linearis Yellow top Blooms: Intermittent Helenium autumnale Sneezeweed Blooms: Summer- Fall Licania michauxii Gopher Apple/ Ground Oak Fruits: late Summer-Fall groundcover Koanophyllon villosum Bauer Aster No image Zephyranntthes atamasca Rain lily Blooms: 2-3 days after rain in Spring and early summer Crotalaria rotundifolia Rabbitbells Erythrina herbacea Coral Bean Conoclinium coelestinum Mist Flower Silphium compositum Rosinweed Blooms: late Summer- Fall Symphotrichum carolinianum Climbing Aster -Summer
Vernonia angustifolia Tall Ironweed Blooms: Late Summer Tillandsia fasciculata common or stiff-leaved wild-pine Endangered Nashia inaguensis Moujean Tea - Bahama Berry Attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds Flowers are fragrant departing a subtle yet exotic vanilla aroma Native of the Bahamas Tillandsia balbisiana inflated & reflexed wildpine - northern needleleaf Threatened Rhus copallinum Winged sumac, Shining sumac, Flameleaf sumac -Summer Cordia bahamensis Bahama Manjack Native South Florida and the Bahamas Melochia tomentosa Wooly Pyramid Bush, Tea Bush Medium size bush or small tree Attracts Birds and Butterflies Verbesina virginica L. Frostweed, White crownbeard, Iceplant, Iceweed, Virginia crownbeard, Indian tobacco, Richweed, Squawweed Attracts Butterflies Native to the Continental US Ageratina jucunda Hammock Snakeroot Eupatorium serotinum Boneset, Thoroughwort; White boneset -Summer Heliotropium curassavicum L. -Summer Salt heliotrope, Seaside heliotrope In some parts of the West this species is called Quail Plant after the birds that feed on its fruit. The Spanish name, Cola de Mico, meaning monkey tail, describes the coiled flower cluster. Native to the US Pityopsis graminifolia Silkgrass Blooms: Mid-Summer
Passiflora suberosa Corky stemmed passion flower is the larval host plant for gulf fritillary, julia and zebra longwing butterflies who linger around this vine, searching for new growth to lay their eggs. Birds will visit this vine to eat the tiny dark purple fruits. Blooms: Intermittent Erigeron vernus Early Whitetop Fleabane Glandularia tampensis Tampa Verbena Nectar source for many butterflies. Endangered endemic species. Erigeron quercifolius Oak-Leaf Fleabane Ruellia caroliniensis Wild Petunia NATIVE BLUE Helianthus angustifolius L. Swamp sunflower -Summer Polypremum procumbens Rustweed, Juniper leaf Blooms:Year-round (growing wild) Portulaca pilosa Kiss-Me-Quick (growing wild) Hypericum hypericoides St. Andrew s Cross - Fall Monarda punctata BeeBalm, Spotted horsemint Blooms: Summer-Fall attracts hummingbirds Commelina erecta L. Whitemouth dayflower, Widow's tears, Day flower, White-mouth dayflower (growing wild) Stylosanthes hamata southern pencilflower, Cheesytoes (growing wild)
Dyschoriste humistrata Swamp twinflower, snake herb (May ) to Fall Viola xprimulifolia Primrose leaf violet Lindernia grandiflora [Ilysanthes grandiflora] Blue Moneywort Savannah False Pimpernel Piloblephis rigida Wild Pennyroyal, Florida Pennyroyal Blooms: late Summer - Fall Verbena scabra Vahl sandpaper vervain Blooms: Pluchea odorata Camphorweed Blooms: late Summer - Fall Carphephorus odoratissimus Deer Tongue / Pineland Purple Blooms: late Summer -Fall Solidago sempervirens Seaside goldenrod Blooms: late Summer - Fall Rudbeckia fulgida Black-eyed Susan Blooms: late Summer - Fall Solidago Little Lemon Compact Goldenrod Attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds Blooms: late Summer Fall DOES NOT CAUSE ALLERGIES It is ragweed that causes allergies
Phlox pilosa Downy phlox Penstemon australis Pink beardtounge Symphyotrichum walteri Walter s Aster Penstemon laevigatus Eastern Smooth Beardtongue Rudbeckia lanciniata Cutleaf coneflower Amorpha herbacea Clusterspike leadplant -Summer Nemastylis floridana Celestial lily / Fall Ixia Blooms: Fall Berlandiera pumlia Soft greeneyes Blooms: Summer-Fall Eurybia eryngiifolius Coyote thistle aster Asclepias tuberosa Butterfly Milkweed Blooms: Fall Special thanks to Craig Huegel of Hawthorn Hill Native Wildflower and Rare Plant Nursery for the use of his photos on this page only.
Dyschoriste oblongifolia Twinflower, as the name implies, has paired lavender flowers that occur throughout the year; the heaviest bloom is in May. Rondeletia odorata Fragrant Panama rose Blooms: Summer-Fall Originally from Cuba Teucrium canadense Germander, Hairy germander, Wood sage Bloom Color: White, Pink Blooms: May, Jun, Jul, Aug Native to U.S. Micromeria brownei var. pilosicula Ground Ivy, Browne s Savory Stokesia laevis Stokes Aster One of the best herbaceous perennials for attracting butterflies. Native to the southeastern US Acmella oppositifolia Oppositeleaf spotflower Physostegia purpurea eastern false dragonhead Ocimum campechianum Balm, basil, basilique, duppy basil, fon basin, fonbouysa, mosquito bush Native to the Lesser Antilles Coreopsis gladiata coastal plain tickseed a short-lived perennial or annual that relies on its large seed production to persist over time. Likes moist soil. Blooms: Fall Heliotropium angiospermum Scorpiontail Heliotrope Bloom: Continuous Salmolus ebracteatus water pimpernel, limewater brookweed - Endangered Zamia pumila Coontie. called the living fossil, this cycad may well be the most primitive plant on earth. Today, coontie is protected and collecting it from the wild is illegal. It is the larval food for the rare Florida Atala butterfly, which in 1965, was declared an endangered species.
Eupatorium purpureum Joe-Pye Weed, Queen of the Meadow, gravel root, kidney root, mist-flower, snakeroot and purple boneset The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Great Spangled Fritillary, Pearl Crescent, Monarch, and the Tawny-edged Skipper are just some of butterflies known to love this wildflower. Argemone Mexicana Mexican Prickly Poppy Southern Glandularia Maritima Beach Verbena, Coastal mock vervain Resembles Tampa vervain; its flowers are lavender with an orange throat Endangered Solidago odora var. chapmanii Chapman s Goldenrod Polymnia uvedalia Large-flowered buttercup, Bear Paw, Bear s foot Gulf Coast Blueberry Southern highbush (V. corymbosum x V. darrowi), a new hybrid, is adapted to the southern rabbiteye zone as well as the coastal South Fruits: Ripen in May No image Dichanthelium commutatum variable panicgrass Osteospermum Calendulaceum (Tagetes minuta) Stinking Roger,Wild Marigold, Muster John Henry, Stinkweed, Stinking Roger, Little Marigold, Huacatay, Non Native Eragrostis elliottii Elliott s Love Grass Argemone albiflora Prickly poppy, white thistle There is also a yellow-blooming species. Tradescantia ohiensis Spiderwort Eragrostis virginica (Zucc. ex Roem.) Steud Coastal /Tender Love Grass
Panicum virgatum Switchgrass, prairie switchgrass, tall panic grass, water panicum, wild redtop, thatchgrass Larval and nectar source for several skipper butterflies. Croton linearis - Pineland croton, Grannybush Sole larval host plant for Bartram's scrub-hairstreak and Florida leafwing butterflies in South Florida. Nectar plant for baracoa skipper, Bartram's scrub-hairstreak, cassius blue, Florida duskywing and other butterflies. Schizachyrium scoparium Little bluestem Medium herbaceous grass 1-2 feet in height; up to 6 feet in flower Capraria biflora Goatweed,wild tea, savadilla, té del país, thé du pays, ditay paye, and balsaminha It is a nectar source for butterflies Melanthera nivea Snow squarestem Wildflower Nectar plant for the Bahamian swallowtail, cassius blue, Florida white, gray hairstreak, gulf fritillary, julia, Miami blue, Schaus' swallowtail, several kinds of skippers, and other butterflies. Vernonia gigantean Giant Ironweed Flowering occurs in July - August. Deep rich-lavender aster flowers form small clusters across the crown of each plant. These last for weeks and attract a wide assortment of butterflies and other pollinators. Coming Coming Coming Coming Coming Coming
Tree List: Pinus elliottii Slash Pine A haven for Migratory Birds Zanthoxylum fagara Wild Lime Provides significant food and moderate amounts of cover for wildlife. Larval host plant for giant swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes) butterflies. Perhaps a secondary larval host for Schaus' swallowtail (Heraclides aristodemus) butterflies. Bursera simaruba Gumbo Limbo Also called the Tourist Tree because of its peeling bark. Fruit will attract birds especially flycatchers. Chrysophyllum oliviforme Satin Leaf Good cover and food source for wildlife Berries attract songbirds Listed as threatened by the State of Florida. Swietenia mahagoni West Indian mahogany In South Florida, this is the only host of the critically imperiled mahogany mistletoe (Phoradendron rubrum). Listed as threatened by the State of FL Bauhinia divaricata Bull hoof - Butterfly Orchid Tree Attracts Hummingbirds Native to Cuba; Dominican Republic; St. Kitts and Nevis Senna polyphylla Synonyms: Cassia polyphylla /Cassia microphylla Desert Cassia Blooms: Intermittent This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds Flowers are fragrant Sulfur Butterfly host plant attracts Hummingbirds Native to Puerto Rico Sabinea - Poitea carinalis Bwa Kwaib - Bois Kwaib Blooms: Intermittent Hummingbirds, Banana Quits and Butterflies Native to the Lesser Antilles island of Dominica and selected as their national flower
Acacia pinetorum Pine Acacia Myrcianthes fragrans Simpson's stopper is a shrub or small tree grows to 20 feet tall. It makes a great hedge. Fragrant little white flowers are produced intermittently through the spring and summer. Showy red-orange fruit provide food for several bird species. Baccharis halmifolia Aster Tree, White Cloud Tree, Snow Bush, Eastern Baccharis The only tree in Asteraceae family. The plant looks like a white cloud or covered with snow. Winter bloomer Native to Southeastern US Tetrazygia bicolor tropical shrub growing 10 to 15 feet tall native to the Miami Rock Ridge in Dade County. Blooms: late spring and summer attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds Capparis cynophallophora Jamaican caper Larval host plant for the caterpillars of the Florida white butterfly (Appias Drusilla) Fragrant at night, the three-inch flowers start out white and turn deep maroon within a few hours. Senna mexicana var. chapmanii Chapman's sensitive plant - Bahama senna A larval host plant for several butterflies, including the orange-barred sulphur, sleep orange sulphur and cloudless sulphur. Native to South Florida, the Bahamas and Cuba. Zanthoxylum clava-herculis Toothache tree, Hercules Club, Sea-ash, Southern Prickly-ash, Pepper bark, Tickletounge. The larvae of the giant Swallowtail butterfly (Papilio cresphontes) like this tree. Randia aculeata white indigo berry Medium to large shrub Larval host plant for tantalus sphinx (Aellopus tantalus) moths. Nectar plant for Schaus' swallowtail (Heraclides aristodemus) and other butterflies. Fragrant flowers, gardenia relative, berries white but seeds surrounded by indigo-blue pulp. Acacia choriophylla Cinnecord is multi-trunk tree with shiny leaves and fragrant yellow flowers. Natural height is less than 20 feet. Extremely drought-tolerant and without thorns like most acacias. on both the federal and Florida state lists of endangered species Krugiodendron ferreum Black Ironwood The hardest wood of all the hardwoods. The Keys pioneers used it for firewood and fence posts. Small flowers provide nectar and birds like the fruit.
Canella winterana Wild Cinnamon, Cinnamon Bark Shrubby, evergreen, aromatic tree to 30-50 feet Guettarda Scabra Wild Guave, Sagebud, Roughleaf Velvetseed A tree shrub Byrsonima lucida Locustberry Small tree or shrub with white flowers turning to pink then red with edible berry loved by the birds. Larval host plant for Florida dusky wing butterfly. *Threatened Eugenia rhombea Red stopper A very rare understory shrub with white flowers that provides food and cover for wildlife. Birds eat the fruits. *Endangered Genipa clusiifolia Seven-year-apple Large shrub with white flowers all year Fruit is a berry that is edible but not tasty. Larval host plant for tantalus sphinx moths. Nectar plant for mangrove skipper and other butterflies. Cornus foemina Stiff cornel, Swamp dogwood, Stiff dogwood Small tree or large shrub with white flowers in the spring. Birds eat the blue fruits. Citharexylum spinosum Fiddlewood Provides food and cover for wildlife. Nectar plant for butterflies. Often defoliated by moth caterpillars. Gymnanthes lucida Crabwood, Oysterwood A relatively common sub-canopy tree in hammocks. Thrinax radiata Thatch Palm Provides significant food and cover for wildlife. Larval host plant for monk skipper (Asbolis capucinus) butterflies. Endangered Colubrina elliptica Soldierwood, Nakedwood Endangered Calyptranthes pallens Spicewood, Pale lidflower. Provides food and cover for wildlife. Birds eat the fruits. Endangered Sideroxylon salicifolium Willow Bustic, White bully Nectar plant for Florida duskywing (Ephyriades brunneus), red-banded hairstreak (Calycopis cecrops) and other butterflies.
Exothea paniculata Inkwood Provides significant food and cover for wildlife. Birds eat the fruits. Lignum Vitae (Gualacum sanctum) "Lignum vitae" is Latin for "tree of life", and derives its name from its medicinal uses; lignum vitae resin has been used to treat a variety of medical conditions. A popular wood in shipbuilding, the wood is so dense that it sinks in water. Flowers are produced at the tips of shoots singly or in few-flowered clusters during March and April. The flowers are almost 1 in (2.5 cm) across and the petals are true blue (a real rarity). The fruit is a brown 5-lobed capsule that splits open when ripe in September or October to expose black seeds that are enclosed in a fleshy red pulp. The tree is rare in most of the Florida Keys, its native habitat. Holywood lignum-vitae is listed as an Endangered species by the State of Florida. Jacquinia keyensis Joewood Provides significant food and cover for wildlife. Threatened Prunus myrtifolia West Indian Cherry Bourreria succulent Smooth strongback, Bahama strongbark Provides significant food and cover for wildlife, including hummingbirds and other small animals. Nectar plant for Bahamian swallowtail (Heraclides andraemon), giant swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes), julia (Dryas iulia), large orange sulphur (Phoebis agarithe), mangrove skipper (Phocides pigmalion), southern broken-dash (Wallengrenia otho) and other butterflies. Endangered Pithecellobium keyense Florida Keys blackbead Provides food and cover for wildlife. Larval host plant for cassius blue (Leptotes cassius) and large orange sulphur (Phoebis agarithe) butterflies. Nectar plant for cassius blue, Florida duskywing (Ephyriades brunneus), Florida white (Appias drusilla), giant swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes), great southern white (Ascia monuste), hammock skipper (Polygonus leo), large orange sulphur, mangrove skipper (Phocides pigmalion), Miami blue (Hemiargus thomasi), Palatka skipper (Euphyes pilatka), southern broken-dash (Wallengrenia otho), three-spotted skipper (Cymaenes tripunctus), twin-spot skipper (Oligorio maculata) and other butterflies. Birds eat the arils. Threatened Guapira discolor Blolly Ardisia escallonioides Marlberry a A super wildlife supporter. It not only provides food and nectar for a wide variety of animals, birds and butterflies, but it is dense enough to provide good cover, too.