Grassleaf Roseling - Callisia graminea

The roselings (Callisia spp.; f.k.a. Cuthbertia spp.) are what I call the "forgotten spiderworts."  They are diminutive and easy to miss while walking in a natural area, but they are especially attractive when viewed up close.  Most have grass-like leaves and all have small pink flowers - like a miniature spiderwort, but not nearly as aggressive in terms of its ability to spread in a landscape.  Florida is home to four species. One is an endemic scrub plant (C. ornata), one is a near-endemic found also in parts of Georgia (C. cordifolia), and another occurs in the Piedmont region of the SE U.S. and in only three Florida counties (C. rosea).  Only grassleaf roseling (C. graminea) occurs over much of Florida and has the adaptibility here to make it a good landscape plant for wildflower gardens.

All roselings are annuals.  Grassleaf roseling, as its common and Latin names suggest, has grass-like leaves that form a clump about 8 inches across and 6-8 inches high.  From this small mound, the flower stalks emerge in late spring to early summer; standing another inch or two above the foliage.  Tiny pink blooms open in the morning and close by early afternoon; similar to those of its close relatives the spiderworts.  Each flower lasts for only that short period, but new flowers are produced daily for many weeks.

Grassleaf roseling occurs in a variety of upland habitats, but is most evident in mesic pinelands in areas of sufficient sunlight.  It is not a fussy plant, but does not do well in habitat extremes. 

Though spiderworts are commonly propagated for home landscapes, the roselings are not. Their small size and annual nature make them poor subjects for most gardens, but they will reseed and persist when planted in conditions that are favorable.  The key is having a bit of open soil for the seeds to germinate in.  Do not attempt this plant in heavily mulched situations.

We grow this species from time to time at Hawthorn Hill.  Currently, we have a few extra plants and we hope to get enough seed from the ones we don't sell to keep it in our inventory.  If you are interested, please ask.

Jewelweed - Impatiens capensis

As a Midwesterner by birth, I remember jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) as a common woodland wildflower.  In Florida, it is at the extreme southern limit of its range and occurs only in 2 panhandle counties (Jackson and Liberty) and has been reported also from Volusia Coounty on the east coast.  Though we can claim it as a native plant, it is certainly not a common occurrence in our woodlands like it is in states to our north. Jewelweed (or touch-me-not, as it is sometimes called) occurs throughout nearly all of North America, from the Yukon to Texas and across to the Atlantic. 

Jewelweed is an annual. Seedlings emerge in early spring and quicky grow to a mature height of about 3-4 feet.  The stems are succulent (like the non-native impatiens so commonly used in Florida landscapes) and numerous side stems are produced along the main stalk.  Sap from the main stalk relieves the itch of mosquito bites and poison ivy exposure, and recent research has shown that it also has anti-fungal properties that can be used to treat such ailments as athelete's foot.

Jewelweed is a lanky plant, but its broad ovate leaves give it some aesthetic character as a foliage plant.  The blooms, however, are what make it a worthy home landscape plant.  For several months from summer to fall , jewelweed produces large orange flowers along the main stems.  Each has a deep throat and they are of special interest to hummingbirds, bees and butterflies. 

In nature, this species occurs in light gaps within deciduous forest habitats, usually in low areas along swales and slow moving creeks.  It cannot take a lot of sunlight nor can it withstand prolonged drought and survive.  In a landscape setting, it should be used as an understory wildflower in moist rich soil, but it should not be used under evergreen trees such as live oaks unless it can get ample sunlight in the late winter and spring.

Jewelweed has never, to my knowledge, been offered by Florida native nurseries, but is is widely propagated to our north.  Because of its annual nature and its restricted growing requirements, it would be a difficult plant to add to most Florida landscapes, but if you reside in north Florida and have the right type of soil and canopy conditions it needs, it might be worth giving it a try.

Joe-pye Weed - Eupatorium fistulosum

Joe-pye weed (Eupatorium fistulosum) is an extremely common component of open wet meadows and marshes throughout most of eastern North America, but is confined mostly to the northern portions of Florida.  In Florida, its distribution is disjunct.  It occurs in most panhandle counties and in a separate region around Orange, Lake, Polk, Seminole, and Osceola Counties in the interior.

The taxonomy of this species seems a bit confused and it gets moved back and forth out of the genus Eupatorium from time to time.  Currently, most Florida taxonomists have it there, but others list it under Eupatoriadelphis. Regardless, it is the same species.

Joe-pye weed is a favorite among butterfly gardeners because its large showy heads of lavender pink blossoms are nectaring magnets, and a favorite among wildflower enthusiasts because of the visual impact this plant makes in the garden.  Though it naturally occurs mostly in wet to very moist soil conditions, joe-pye weed can handle typical garden settings except extremely droughty soils. That may be why its use in much of Florida is limited.

This is a deciduous herbaceous perennial. It makes its appearance known each spring and then quickly grows upward to achieve a mature height of 5-7 feet by summer.  The stems are stout and the whorled leaves are thick and coarse.  Each is  about 5-6 inches long and noticeably toothed. The large corymbs of lavender pink flowers open in mid summer and last for weeks.

A stand of joe-pye weed is stunning in bloom, but the plants are difficult to control.  The truth is..., joe-pye weed suckers aggressively throughout the garden when conditions are to its liking.  It does not play nice with its neighbors and it easily outcompetes smaller, less aggressive ones.  For this reason, it is best used as a accent patch near a pond or marsh edge.  In such a setting, it will limit itself to the moist areas. It performs best in sunny and partly sunny locations, but it can survive shadier sites if kept moist.  It just doesn't bloom well under too much shade.

Currently, joe-pye weed is not grown by nurseries listed with FANN - the Florida Association of Native Nurseries, but is widely available from native-plant nurseries in states to our immediate north.  If you are truly interested in adding it to your landscape, choose a source as close to your home as possible and start with just a few individual plants.  If it is happy where you plant it, you will soon have more.

Hoary Skullcap - Scutellaria incana

Hoary skullcap (Scutellaria incana) occurs in the panhandle region of Florida and throughout much of the eastern U.S. Throughout its range, it is a species of dry open woodlands and openings. 

Hoary skullcap is a perennial deciduous herbaceous mint.  It emerges early in the spring and eventually reaches its mature height of about 2-3 feet by summer.  This is a rather lanky plant; taller than wide.  The foliage is arrow-shaped (deltoid). Each leaf has noticeable toothed margins and the veins are distinct and "netted."

Flowering occurs in summer. Many buds are produced at the tips of the main stems and flowers are produced for many weeks from June-August.  Like other members of this genus (and many in the family), each bloom is tubular with a pronounced lower lip.  The overall color is a rich purple/lavender, but the outer side of the petals is white.  This can be variable, however. Skullcap flowers are pollinated by bees.

Though our native mints make wonderful additions to the home landscape, few of the skullcaps are grown commercially in Florida. I am not aware of hoary skullcap ever being offered by nurseries affiliated with FANN - the Florida Association of Native Nurseries, but it is propagated by several nurseries north of Florida.  We just recently acquired some material and will be testing it out in our landscape at Hawthorn Hill. Perhaps someday, we can make this beautiful native mint available to others.

The landscape range of this plant has not been tested.  Until it is, it would be best to limit its use to the northern third of Florida.  Plant it in sunny locations and mass it in clusters of 5-7 plants for best effect. Hoary skullcap wold be best used with other medium-tall wildflowers and should perform well in nearly any typical home landscape setting. Though it prefers a sunny location, it will do fine in partial sun as well.

Orange Coneflower - Rudbeckia fulgida var. fulgida

Orange coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida) is a close relative of the ubiquitous black-eyed susan (R. hirta), but is far less common here in Florida.  Whereas black-eyed susan occurs nearly statewide in Florida, orange coneflower is scattered across several central panhandle counties and south to Taylor and Dixie Counties in the "Big Bend" region of the northwestern peninsula.  Outside of Florida, this wildflower is extremely common as well.  Its geographical range extends from Texas in the west, Ontario to the north, and east at these latitudes to the Atlantic.

Throughout its range, orange coneflower is found in sunny to partly sunny locations in average uplands in average soils.  It can be found in moist sites, but is more often present in locations decidedly mesic.  In most aspects, it is similar to its close cousin, black-eyed susan - just a bit more robust.  Orange coneflower often stands 2-3 feet tall when in bloom and the flowers in Florida tend to be a bit broader. One major difference between the two is that orange coneflower is a perennial while black-eyed susan is an annual or, at best, a biennial. The other difference lies in the hairs along the main stems.  Black-eyed susan is hirsute - the hairs occur on all sides of the stem and are bristly.  The hairs on orange coneflower are strigose; mostly appressed along the stem instead of standing out in all directions.

The foliage of orange coneflower is highly variable.  In the variety found in Florida, R. fulgida var fulgida, the leaves at the upper portion of the stem are about the same size as the lower leaves.  In var. sullivantii, found in areas north of Florida, the upper leaves are noticeably reduced.

Orange coneflower is an adaptable and beautiful wildflower and should be used far more in Florida than it currently is.  Although it is widely available from native plant sources to our north, it is not currently propagated by any nursery in Florida affiliated with FANN - the Florida Association of Native Nurseries.  This is regrettable as this species is adaptable to at least the northern third of the state. I do not have experience with it outside of north Florida, though we recently acquired some specimens that we hope to evaluate.

Use this species like you would black-eyed susan.  It does best planted in mass and mixed with other medium tall wildflowers and native grasses.

Shrubby St. John's-wort - Hypericum prolificum

Shrubby St. John's-wort (Hypericum prolificum) is considered to be native to Florida, but this nativity is based on one collection made in Volusia County in 1848.  For all practical purposes, it is a species of states to our north.  Shrubby St. John's-wort occurs throughout the eastern half of the US and in Ontario. 

This is an upland species, but adapted to a wide variety of soil and light conditions.  Such adaptability has made it one of the most commonly grown species in the genus and it is offered by many native plant nurseries outside of Florida.  Named cultivars are also sometimes offered.

Shrubby St. John's-wort attains a mature height of about 3 feet.  The mounded appearance is attractive and the linear blue-green leaves and reddish stems add to its aesthetic qualities.  This is a deciduous species. The bark of mature specimens is coppery in color and peels in small sheets. 

Flowering occurs a bit later than most species; July and into August.  The flowers are a deep canary yellow and large in size.  Abundant stamens surround the carpel.  These prolific structures give it its Latin name.

I have only begun experimenting with this beautiful species in our Florida garden.  As it has not been seen in Florida for nearly 200 years, it is not propagated by any Florida native plant nursery and there is no information on its cultivation here.  Our plant originated from a North Carolina nursery.  Over the next few years, it is our intention to test its adaptability to our landscape conditions.  Perhaps we will return it as a viable landscape choice for Florida gardeners. 
Its great beauty and tolerance to a wide diversity of growing conditions in nature, make it a candidate worth investing in.

Coyote Thistle Aster - Eurybia eryngiifolia

 

Coyote thistle aster (Eurybia eryngiifolia) occurs in the central Panhandle of Florida in open pine savannas. It also occurs in similar habitats in southern Alabama and Georgia.  In these habitats, it is adapted to moist to wet conditions during the summer rainy season and relatively dry conditions in late spring to early summer.

I have no idea where the "coyote" portion of the common name comes from.  Coyotes are relatively recent immigrants into this region of the U.S. and nothing of this plant reminds me of them...  The Latin species name comes from the appearance of the leaves which look a great deal like the common rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium). They are linear and somewhat spiny near the base.  Of course, the common name "thistle aster" refers to the same characteristic.

Coyote thistle aster is deciduous in the winter and makes an early appearance in the spring.  The whorled rosette of basal leaves is soon followed by a central flower stalk.  This reaches a mature height of 2-3 feet in summer and early fall.  The large flower buds are produced at the top of the stalk.  They are 3/4 inch across and very spiny in appearance.  Several buds are produced on each stalk.

Flowering occurs anywhere from summer to fall.  The flowers are large, quite striking and somewhat unusual.  The large central disc is a dull yellow in color and surrounded by a large number of white spidery ray flowers. Bees and butterflies are attracted to these blooms.  As the seeds ripen about a month later, the seed heads are extremely "fuzzy."

To the best of my knowledge, this distinctive wildflower has never been offered by nurseries affiliated with FANN - the Florida Association of Native Nurseries.  We have been propagating it at Hawthorn Hill (in very limited numbers) for several years, however, and hope to keep it in cultivation into the future. In our Pinellas County landscape, we grow coyote thistle aster and Chapman aster (Symphyotrichum chapmanii) in large landscape pots together with Catesby lily (Lilium catesbaei) as they all share the same basic requirements - good light, relatively fertile soil, and a bit of extra moisture.  This plant would not survive the normal conditions of my landscape, but they have done quite well in large pots where I can give them a bit better soils and moisture.

We have sold all of our "extra" plants for 2011, but hope our ripening seed crop will enable us to offer even more plants in 2012.  Ask us if interested.