An accent or specimen shrub in moist locations.
Ecological Restoration Notes:
A rather rare element of a variety for upland ecosystems.
Availability:
Grown by enthusiasts.
Description:
Medium to large erect woody shrub with sparse foliage and upright stems that ultimately bend toward the ground.
Dimensions:
Typically 4-12 feet in height. About as broad as high and often growing in clumps.
Growth Rate:
Moderate.
Range:
Widespread in North America south to Palm Beach and Collier counties. Reported for Miami-Dade County based upon a specimen from "Lemon City," but this may refer to a location in the Charlotte Harbor area.
Habitats:
Hammock edges and thickets.
Soils:
Moist, well-drained sandy soils, with humusy top layer.
Nutritional Requirements:
Moderate; can grow in nutrient poor soils, but needs some organic content to thrive.
Salt Water Tolerance:
Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance:
Low; salt wind may burn the leaves.
Drought Tolerance:
Moderate; generally requires moist soils, but tolerant of short periods of drought once established.
Light Requirements:
Full sun to light shade.
Flower Color:
Dark purple to pale blue and white.
Flower Characteristics:
Showy, in dense elongated racemes.
Flowering Season:
Spring-summer; peak in spring.
Fruit:
Small pod (legume).
Wildlife and Ecology:
Provides significant food and moderate amounts of cover for wildlife. Larval host plant for silver spotted skipper (Epargyreus clarus) and southern dogface (Zerene cesonia) butterflies.
Comments:
Rarely attacked by insects or disease.
More. Grown in zone 8b
