Piaropus Crassipes, Water Hyacinth

Introduced from Brazil and now a nuisance over large areas of the state. If confined to pools or ponds it can do no harm, and the flowers and foliage are very attractive.

Tillandsia Fasciculate

A lovely Bromeliad with maroon or purplish bracts and bluish corollas, common on trees in hammocks in South Florida and will grow on any tree if it is firmly fastened to it.

Lilium Catesbaei

Lilium Catesbaei is one of the members of this beautiful genus which grows in low pine land throughout the northern two-thirds of the state, and would doubtless do well almost anywhere in Florida in similar soil. The bulbs should be taken up when the plants are dormant and disturbed as little as possible afterwards.

Agave Sisalina, A. Decipiens And A. Neglecta

Agave Sisalina, A. Decipiens And A. Neglecta, all century plants, make fine ornaments but like the Yuccas it will not do to be too neighborly with them. A. decipiens is more hardy than the others and would probably succeed all over the south half of the state.

Zephyranthes Atamasco, Atamasco Lily

Zephyranthes Atamasco, Atamasco Lily, is a native of Florida and is quite common in general cultivation. It is hardy throughout the state and will do well in any good soil, preferably that which is a little damp. Z. treatei and Z. simpsonii are pretty plants and will do well generally in Florida.

Crinum Americanum

Crinum Americanum with its lovely pure white flowers lights up the dreary Florida swamps and is hardy generally over the state. It produces its fragrant flowers the greater part of the year and may be readily transplanted. There are apparently two nearly related species growing in Dade County.

Hymenocallis, Spider Lily

There are several species of this genus which are natives of Florida and all have flowers of delicate satiny texture. They look like little white umbrellas with the ribs projecting beyond the cover. The ribs are the stamens and the cover is a sort of crown which connects them. The large green, fleshy seed bulbs are often carried by sea from the West Indies and are landed on our shores where they germinate.

Canna Flaccida

A beautiful native Canna with yellow flowers, an inhabitant of wet lands throughout the state. It will do well in good soil that is not too dry.

Thalia Divaricata

A handsome bog plant growing throughout the state. It reaches a height of ten feet, with banana-like leaves three or four feet long, and bears elegant purplish flowers. It should be planted in deep, rich soil.

Blepharigottis

A genus of terrestrial orchids that is well represented in Florida and one that contains some very attractive species. I do not know whether any attempt has been made to cultivate any of them or not but they should be tried. B. ciliaris is especially fine.

Hibiscus Grandiflorus

A half shrubby plant growing in swamps near the sea coast throughout the state. It has hastate, lobed hoary leaves and very handsome large pink flowers with a deep red center. It is abundantly worthy of cultivation and might grow in moderately dry, rich soil. H. moscheutos is very much like the former but has ovate leaves. There are several other fine native Hibiscus and among them are H. coccineus with a deep red flower, H. militaris which is nearly glabrous and has a large, dark eyed pink flower, H. incanus having a yellow blossom with a crimson eye and H. aculeatus which is hispid all over, with lobed leaves and a yellow, purple-eyed flower. All are hardy throughout the state and are cultivated elsewhere.

Verbena Maritima

This plant grows wild in Dade County and bears charming purple flowers in profusion. There are two forms here, one having much more finely dissected leaves than the other. Both grow on dry pine land.

Lobelia Cardinalis, Cardinal Flower

Probably there is no more vivid red in nature than the color of the flower of this plant. It grows in wet places and has a wide distribution in the Eastern United States. It will do well in cultivation in rich, not too dry soil. It will do finely in partial shade.

There are many other native Floridian plants that might be mentioned in this list which are worthy of cultivation. This long list shows, however, how rich our state is in attractive things wherewith to decorate our grounds and homes.

Exotic Ornamental Plants

In a general way plants which are designated as coming from tropical regions will not prove hardy in Florida north of the extreme lower part of the state, though there are some notable exceptions. It sometimes happens that a plant whose home is within the tropics may there grow well up on the sides of mountains where it is exposed to sharp frost during the winter months. And it is quite often true that plants from warm temperate or even temperate countries will do well even down into the Torrid Zone. I have endeavored in these lists to point out such exceptions as far as I knew of them. Usually the vegetation of temperate regions does not succeed in tropical countries.

In the following lists I have for the most part mentioned such things as have either come under my actual notice or that of competent observers and cultivators in Florida. Of course there are many plants grown in the state that it was impossible to obtain any record of, and I have listed some things that, so far as I know, have not been introduced here, things that seemed to me were especially important or desirable.