Plant Spotlight
Plant Spotlight: Cherokee Bean or Coral Bean
Despite its name, Cherokee Bean (Erythrina herbacea) is not an edible legume. Parts of the plant are edible, but it is not advisable to eat them unless you really know what you’re doing because it can be toxic. However, it is one of the prettiest native plants for landscaping. When it is not blooming, Cherokee …
Beauty Berry: Not Just a Weed. Insecticide, Jams, and Native Landscaping.
Callicarpa Americana more commonly known as Beauty Berry is one of the most easily recognizable backyard plants. It grows pretty much anywhere, and most people think of it as just a weed. It is easily identified by its bright purple berries, and due to its color, most people think it is poisonous. However, this is …
Plant Spotlight: Cabbage Palm
The cabbage palm (Sabal palmetto) is Florida’s state tree, and is also one of the most easily recognizable trees. It can be found nearly everywhere in Florida and is commonly used in landscaping. Cabbage palms are easily identified by the shape and size of their leaves. The leaf of a cabbage palm is very broad …
Plant Spotlight: Coontie
The coontie (Zamia pumilia) is a native Florida plant that many people are probably familliar with, but few can identify by name. While today the coontie is almost exclusively found in landscaping, it used to be a fairly common wild plant. Native Americans used to dig up these plants and use their roots to make flour. European settlers …
Plant Spotlight: Poison Ivy
Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) is one of the most notorious and commonly found plants, but it can be difficult to identify for those who do not have much experience outdoors, as it comes in a variety of sizes and is easily confused with other plants. The most commonly seen plants are the juveniles, and the leaves on these …