Plant Profiles

Skyblue lupine

Skyblue lupine (Lupinus diffuses) is a lovely herbaceous perennial that occurs primarily in dry flatwoods and blooms in spring

Slimleaf pawpaw (Asimina angustifolia) is a deciduous flowering shrub found in flatwoods, scrub and sandhills from southeast Georgia into North Florida. It is a larval host for the Zebra swallowtail butterfly and Pawpaw sphinx moth.

Small butterwort

Small butterwort (Pinguicula pumila) is a diminutive, insectivorous wildflower found in wet pinelands and prairies throughout most of Florida. It blooms winter through spring.

Smallflower pawpaw

Smallflower pawpaw (Asimina parviflora ) is a deciduous flowering shrub to small tree found in floodplain forests and hardwood hammocks throughout the Southeastern Coastal Plain from southern Virginia to eastern Texas.

Smallfruit beggarticks

Smallfruit beggarticks (Bidens mitis) blooms year-round in wet prairies and along fresh and brackish marsh edges throughout much of Florida. The bright yellow flowers attract many bees and butterflies.

Snow squarestem

Also known as Cat’s tongue, Salt and pepper and Nonpareil, Snow squarestem (Melanthera nivea) typically blooms summer through early winter, but can bloom year-round, attracting bees, butterflies and other pollinators.

Snowberry

Snowberry (Chiococca alba) is a robust evergreen vinelike shrub that occurs naturally in pine rocklands, shell mounds and coastal strands and hammocks. Its fragrant flowers bloom spring through fall.

Soft greeneyes

Soft greeneyes (Berlandiera pumila) is found in sandhills and pinelands throughout the Panhandle and north Florida. It blooms spring through summer, attracting a variety of butterflies, bees and wasps.

Softhair coneflower

Softhair coneflower (Rudbeckia mollis) is a robust plant with bright yellow blooms that provide spring and summer color to sandhills, dry open hammocks and roadsides in North and Central Florida

Solomon’s seal

Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum biflorum) is a unique wildflower with pendulous, greenish-white flowers that hang in pairs from the leaf axils and are often obscured by leaves.

Southeastern sneezeweed

Southeastern sneezeweed (Helenium pinnatifidum) is a sunny spring bloomer. It occurs naturally in wet flatwoods and roadside ditches, and along marsh and swamp edges throughout Florida.

Southern beeblossom

Southern beeblossom (Oenothera simulans) flowers spring through summer. The flowers open at night and attract a wide range of small pollinators, including moths and bees.

Southern catalpa

The Southern catalpa (Catalpa bignonioides) is a strikingly beautiful tree with a fascinating cultural heritage. Also commonly referred to as the worm or fish bait tree, it is a larval host for the Catalpa sphinx moth, whose caterpillars are tough and juicy, making them ideal fish bait!

Southern crabapple

Southern crabapple (Malus angustifolia) is a deciduous flowering shrub with fragrant spring blooms. They are pollinated primarily by bees, but butterflies are also known to visit them.

Southern magnolia

Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) is a majestic and iconic evergreen tree found in mesic hammocks and slope forests. It is renowned for its showy fragrant flowers, dramatic dark green leaves, and stately form.

Southern milkweed

Southern milkweed (Asclepias viridula) is a rare, state-threatened wildflower found in wet prairies, flatwoods and bogs.

Southern twayblade

Southern twayblade (Neottia bifolia) is a small terrestrial orchid found in bogs, moist hardwood forests, swamps and marshes throughout the eastern U.S. and Canada. In Florida, it is a threatened species, having been documented in only 19 counties. It blooms primarily in January, but may bloom between December and March. It is often found growing among Cinnamon ferns, however, Southern twayblade’s camouflaging colors, short thin flowers and low stature make it difficult to spot. For this reason, the plant may have a greater distribution than documented.