NATIVE SHRUBS

The following information was provided by  SHARON DOLAN   of MAPLE STREET NATIVES, 2395 Maple Street, W. Melbourne, Fl. 32904.729-6857

Beauty Berry -- Callicarpa americana -- A great wildlife shrub with a height of around 6'. The pink flowers in the spring which are nectar sources for bees, fall off quickly and produce a berry that will turn dark purple by fall. The purple berries and pale green leaves are a good contrast with an assortment of shrubs. Very shade tolerant and in most cases drops its leaves right before spring.

Christmas Berry -- Lycium carolinianum -- A Shrub along the marshes of the Indian River Lagoon, this salt and wind tolerant shrub produces light purple flowers and a red berry usually at the same time hanging on the branches which is a beautiful show during our winter months. The leaves although small and succulent looking are a light green which again is a nice contrast with most darker green shrubs. Can be sheared to desired height but naturally grows to around 6'.

Coral Bean -- Erythrina herbacea -- A small tree very drought and salt tolerant. Although considered a tree the branches are sprawling and give a more shrub form. The brilliant red flowers in the early spring can not be matched in adding color to ones garden. The plant drops its leaves which are also a unique shape in the winter and form the flower before the leaves appear again. Excellent plant for attracting hummingbirds.

Fiddlewood -- Citharexylum fruiticosum -- A small tree with more shrub form in Brevard Co. 6-8 ft. or sheared to desired height. Produce white fragrant flowers excellent for nectar source and a berry for wildlife. This plant is evergreen and withstands wind and is cold tolerant to the high 20's.

Firebush -- Hamelia patens -- A shrub that produces red tubular flowers for nectar and a berry that follows that is utilized by birds. The plant is not cold hardy but comes back quickly the following spring. The shrub can grow anywhere from 6 to 8' or be pruned to desired height.

Fl. Privet -- Foresteria segregata -- A small tree and again shrub form to desired height. This is an excellent plant for wildlife. The seed is consumed by birds and the flowers, although not showy are a good source of nectar. The plant drops a few leaves before the flowers appear but for the most part is evergreen, salt tolerant and can handle cold weather.

Gopher Apple -- Licania michauxii -- Although used as a ground cover this plant can reach shrub form if not mowed or pruned. Eventually covering a large area, the roots run underground and other plants form. The flower is showy in late spring and the fruit which is eaten by the gopher tortoise and other wildlife is around 1-2" white with a lovely fragrance.

Necklace Pod -- Sophora tomentosa -- A wonderful shrub for yellow color with pea shaped blooms extending off the branches. This plant is considered a host plant for butterflies and moths. A smooth texture to its leaves gives a different texture to your landscape. This shrub looks good in massive planting and withstands salt and wind. Pruning may be desired after shrub produces its long beaded seed pod.

Red Star Hibiscus -- Hibiscus coccinea -- This perennial shrubs puts out brilliant large red flowers in the summer. Best used with a combination of plants as it will die back in the winter. Height is around 6' with blooms at the top of branches.

Rusty Lyonia -- Lyonia ferruginea -- This plant grows in dry scrub or dry pine flatwoods. The same type of conditions in your yard will make this plant successful. The new growth puts out of rusty color hence the name which adds diversity to a planted area. This shrub may be sheared but prefers its desired height of around 8-10' as a specimen.

Saw Palmetto -- Serenoa repens -- The best plant for nectar, wildlife food, coverage and drought tolerance. The palmetto may be clear trunk or left for natural planting areas. Covers a large area after fully grown. A suggestion when replanting for wildlife is to plant individual plants far enough apart to receive full sun so more blooming occurs.

Sea Grape -- Coccoloba uvifera -- An excellent wind and salt tolerant shrub of our coastal areas. This shrub may be used as a specimen or hedge. Planted along dune lines it may help with erosion. Also excellent wildlife food and coverage.

Simpson's Stopper -- Myrcianthes fragrans -- A small tree again that can be sheared to shrub form. This plant is excellent for nectar and the birds consume the berries quickly. This plant is evergreen and is found up into Volusia Co.

Snowberry -- Chiococca alba -- A very salt tolerant shrub that grows sprawling branches but may be pruned to desired shape. The small white flowers drop and the brilliant white berries are then all over the plant which gives its name Snowberry. Utilized by birds, and seen inland around shell middens and coastal areas up to Brevard Co.

Varnish leaf -- Dodonaea viscosa --A shrub to 5ft. This plant is evergreen and a good specimen plant. The flowers are not as showy as the clustered seeds that form a couple a time a year. The plant is cold tolerant to the high 20's and can handle salt and wind exposure.

Wax Myrtle -- Myrica cerifera -- A shrub to 25ft in wet areas but adaptable to dry conditions with mulch and irrigation. This shrub is excellent nesting and cover for birds and the seeds on the female plants are consumed as well. This shrub may be sheared to desired height and withstands windy conditions and some amount of salt drift. When planting as a hedge plant 3t to 4ft on center. As a specimen it may be pruned to a single or multi-branch tree form.

Walter's Viburnum -- Viburnum obovatum -- A small tree or desired shrub form. This cold hardy plant that produces white clustered flowers in February and seeds that is excellent bird food. This plant has strong branches for nesting and tolerates a wide variety of soil conditions. When planting a hedge plant 3 to 4 ft. on center.

Wild Coffee -- Psychotria nervosa -- A small evergreen shrub cold tolerant to the low 30's, this tropical shrub produces small clusters of white flowers. The plant prefers much shade and will flower and produce berries for wildlife. The plant height is around 4 to 5' and has a mounding effect.

Youpon Holly -- Ilex vomitoria -- A Small Tree to 15' or Shrub, (when sheared) this small leaf evergreen will produce red berries on the female plants in the winter time. An excellent plant for coverage, wind tolerance, salt tolerance, and general cold hardy plant.

SHARON DOLAN  can be reached at  (407)729-6857   or e-mail mastna@aol.com
Website  http://members.aol.com/mastna

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