Pictured above: Shiny lyonia (Lyonia lucida) by Emily Bell
33 species native to Florida Source: Atlas of Florida Plants Note: Recognized taxa may differ between sources, depending on which taxonomic approach is followed.
Family characteristics
Ericaceae is a fascinating plant family with about 4,250 species recognized worldwide. Its diverse members include herbs, shrubs and trees — many of them evergreen, although there are notable deciduous exceptions within the Rhododendron and Vaccinium genera.
Some common characteristics of this family include:
Flowers are perfect, having both stamens and carpels. Their petals are often fused, forming corollas that range from narrowly tubular to widely urn-shaped. Corollas are usually radially symmetrical but may also be bilaterally symmetrical.
They thrive in acidic soils and often have mycorrhizal relationships to augment their nutrient intake in infertile soils.
Berries on Darrow’s blueberry (Vaccinium darrowii). Photo by Emily Bell
Tarflower (Bejaria racemosa). Photo by Mary Keim
Indianpipes (Monotropa uniflora). Photo by Emily Bell
Interesting facts
The most delicious members of this family are the blueberries (Vaccinium spp.). Florida is home to numerous native species, including Shiny blueberry (Vaccinium myrsinites), Darrow’s blueberry (Vaccinium darrowii) and Elliot’s blueberry (Vaccinium elliotti). Their berries are edible for humans and an important food source for wildlife. Blueberries are also grown commercially in Florida from plants that have been hybridized with native species to improve their adaptation to local environments.
Another highly recognizable Ericaceae genus is Rhododendron — the azaleas. Ornamental varieties are a staple of southern landscaping, and Florida’s beautiful native species, including Flame azalea (Rhododendron austrinum) and Sweet pinxter azalea (Rhododendron canescens), are also gaining attention for their utility in landscapes.
Darrow’s blueberry (Vaccinium darrowii) is a small shrub that is underappreciated as a landscape plant. Its profuse spring blooms attract many pollinators and the sweet summer berries are attractive to wildlife and edible for us too!
Sweet pinxter azalea (Rhododendron canescens) has showy pinkish- to rose-colored flowers that bloom in spring. They attract a number of pollinators, including hummingbirds.
Rusty lyonia ( Lyonia ferruginea) is a long-lived evergreen flowering shrub, so named for the many rust-colored hairs that cover the plant’s leaves, stems and trunk.
Winter brings interesting blooms to North Central Florida’s hardwood hammocks, including the cryptic Pygmy pipes (Monotropsis reynoldsiae). With only around 10 populations currently known, this narrow range endemic species is listed as state-endangered.
Indianpipe ( Monotropa uniflora) is an interesting and inconspicuous wildflower. Unlike most plants, it is non-photosynthetic and does not contain chlorophyll. It occurs naturally in mixed temperate hardwood forests and scrub.
Sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboreum) blooms in spring, attracting a variety of pollinators — especially native bees. It is the larval host for the Striped hairstreak and Henry’s elfin butterflies.
Dwarf huckleberry (Gaylussacia dumosa) is a low-growing colonial shrub found in pine savannas, flatwoods, sandhills and scrub throughout much of Florida. It is a larval host for the woodland elfin butterfly.
Climbing fetterbush (Pieris phyllyreifolia) is an evergreen vine-like shrub found in swamps, moist pinelands, upland mixed forests and sandhills in the Panhandle and several peninsular counties.
Coastal doghobble (Leucothoe axillaris) has interesting evergreen foliage and showy flowers keep it attractive throughout the year. Its spring flowers are pollinated primarily by bees.
Shiny blueberry (Vaccinium myrsinites) is a low evergreen shrub that flowers heavily in the spring. It occurs naturally in mesic pine flatwoods, sandhills, scrubby flatwoods, dry prairies and scrub habitats.
Swamp azalea (Rhododendron viscosum) is Florida’s only white-flowered and summer-blooming rhododendron. It occurs in wet flatwoods, seep and bay swamps and along lake margins and attracts a variety of pollinators.
Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) puts on a spectacular springtime display. Its flowers attract bees and its dense foliage provides cover for birds and small mammals.
Tarflower (Bejaria racemosa) is a woody evergreen shrub with showy white to pinkish flowers. It occurs naturally in scrub, pine flatwoods and scrubby flatwoods and is found in most of peninsular Florida.
