Native Plants

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Friday - June 05, 2009

From: Fort Myers, FL
Region: Southeast
Topic: Water Gardens, Herbs/Forbs
Title: Native plants for a littoral zone in Fort Myers, Florida
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, What native plants would you recommend for the littoral zone on a pond in Fort Myers Florida? Damon's Mom

ANSWER:

Mr. Smarty Plants feels very honored to be answering a question for Damon's Mom!

There are a wealth of Florida natives that should work well around your pond. Some of them will grow equally as well in shallow water and in the moist soil around the edge of the pond. All of them should be able to withstand at least a brief immersion. All of these recommended plants are known to grow in Lee County or an adjacent county of Florida.

Arisaema triphyllum (Jack in the pulpit), sun or shade

Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed), sun and part shade

Crinum americanum (seven sisters), part shade

Habenaria repens (waterspider bog orchid) and more photos and information, sun and part shade

Helianthus angustifolius (swamp sunflower), part shade

Hibiscus grandiflorus (swamp rosemallow) and here are photos, part shade

Kosteletzkya virginica (Virginia saltmarsh mallow), sun

Iris hexagona (Dixie iris), sun, part shade

Lythrum alatum (winged lythrum), sun

Canna flaccida (bandanna of the Everglades) and here are photos and more information, sun

Rhexia mariana (Maryland meadowbeauty), part shade

Saururus cernuus (lizard's tail), part shade and shade

Hydrocotyle umbellata (manyflower marshpennywort), sun, part shade and shade

Lilium catesbaei (pine lily), part shade

Marsilea macropoda (bigfoot waterclover), sun, part shade, shade

Sagittaria latifolia (broadleaf arrowhead), sun and part shade

FERNS

Osmunda cinnamomea (cinnamon fern), sun, part shade and shade

Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis (royal fern), part shade and shade

GRASS/GRASS-LIKE

Eleocharis montevidensis (sand spikerush), sun

Rhynchospora colorata (starrush whitetop), sun and part shade

Juncus effusus (common rush) and here are photos and more information, sun

SHRUBS

Cephalanthus occidentalis (common buttonbush), part shade and shade

Ilex glabra (inkberry), part shade

Morella cerifera (wax myrtle), sun and part shade

Here are a few photos of the plants in the list above:

Arisaema triphyllum

Asclepias incarnata

Crinum americanum

Kosteletzkya virginica

Iris hexagona

Rhexia mariana

Saururus cernuus

Sagittaria latifolia

Osmunda cinnamomea

Eleocharis montevidensis

Rhynchospora colorata

Cephalanthus occidentalis

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