Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection
Coastal Construction Control Line Program
[email protected]
(850) 245-2094
Recommended Florida Beach and Dune Plants August 3, 2021 Page 1
Recommended Florida Native Beach and Dune Plants for
Beachfront Properties and Dune Restoration
Description
This plant list has been compiled by Coastal Construction Control Line (CCCL) staff to inform homeowners and professionals on attractive native plants expected
to grow well on Florida dunes and to be available for sale in Florida nurseries. Beach dune plants are adapted to harsh environments, yet require a moderate level
of protection from drought, saltspray, wind, sunburn and being eaten before the newly planted plants “harden off” and start growing on their own.
Notes:
1. Salt tolerance: high (tolerant of heavy and frequent salt spray, salt water flooding); moderate (tolerant of salt spray but subject to leaf burn from heavy
salt spray or root damage from flooding); low (tolerant of salt laden air and short duration, infrequent salt water flooding but usually in protected
areas).
2. Region: NW = northwest Florida Panhandle; SW = Pinellas to Collier counties; NE = Nassau to Volusia counties; SE = Brevard to Dade counties; Keys =
restricted to the Florida Keys and adjacent Dade and Monroe County islands. Regions have primarily been determined by the historic distribution of
the plant in Florida’s coastal upland natural communities, not necessarily by the range of areas or habitats where the plant could survive.
3. Soil Moisture: moist (subject to flooding as within low dune swales); moderate (not subject to frequent flooding but not adapted to deepest sands or
driest conditions; dry (adapted to deep sands, dune ridges, or well drained rocky soils); and variations for plants adapted across a range of conditions.
4. The native status of plants noted with an asterisk “*” has been questioned due to use of cultivars or artificial introduction of plant populations in Fla.
References:
1. Nelson, Gil. 2003. Florida’s Best Native Landscape Plants: 200 readily available species for homeowners and professionals. Florida Association of Native
Nurseries. University Presses of Florida.
2. Williams, M.J. 2007. Native Plants for Coastal Dune Restoration: what, when and how for Florida. USDA, NRCS, Brooksville Plant Materials Center,
Brooksville, Florida.
3. Wunderlin, Richard P., et.al. Plant Atlas. University of South Florida.
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection
Coastal Construction Control Line Program
[email protected]
(850) 245-2094
Recommended Florida Beach and Dune Plants August 3, 2021 Page 2
Dune Grasses
Scientific Name
Common Name
Salt tolerance
NW/SW/NE/SE/Keys
Soil Moisture
Distichlis spicata
salt grass
high
all
moist
Muhlenbergia capillaris var. filipes
Gulf hairawn muhly grass
moderate
all
moderate
Panicum amarum
bitter panic grass
high
all
dry
Paspalum vaginatum
seashore paspalum*(not sod)
high
all
moderate
Schizachyrium scoparium
coastal bluestem
high
all
moderate
Spartina patens
marshhay
high
all
moderate
Sporobolus virginicus
seashore dropseed
high
all
moist
Uniola paniculata
sea oats
high
all
dry
Groundcovers
Scientific Name
Common Name
Salt tolerance
NW/SW/NE/SE/Keys
Borrichia arborescens
sea oxeye
high
SW, SE, Keys
Borrichia frutescens
sea oxeye
high
all
Conradina canescens
beach rosemary
moderate
NW
Ernodea littoralis
golden beach creeper
high
SW, SE, Keys
Gaillardia pulchella*
blanket flower
moderate
all
Helianthus debilis
East Coast dune sunflower
high
NE, SE, Keys
Helianthus debilis spp. cucumerifolius
cucumber leaf dune sunflower
high
NW, SW
Helianthus debilis ssp. vestitus
West Coast dune sunflower
high
SW
Hymenocallis latifolia
beach spider lily
high
SW, NE, SE, Keys
Ipomoea imperati
beach morning glory
high
all
Ipomoea pes-caprae
railroad vine
high
all
Iva imbricata
beach elder
high
all
Sesuvium portulacastrum
sea purslane
high
all
Solidago sempervirens
seaside goldenrod
high
NW, SW, NE, SE
Yucca filamentosa
Adam’s needle
moderate
NW, SW, NE, SE
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection
Coastal Construction Control Line Program
[email protected]
(850) 245-2094
Recommended Florida Beach and Dune Plants August 3, 2021 Page 3
Vines
Scientific Name
Common Name
Salt tolerance
NW/SW/NE/SE/Keys
Bignonia capreolata
cross vine
moderate
NW, SW, NE, SE
Gelsemium sempervirens
Carolina jessamine
moderate
NW, SW, NE, SE
Ipomoea alba
moonflower
high
SW, SE, Keys
Pentalinon luteum
wild allamanda
high
SW, SE, Keys
Vitis rotundifolia
muscadine
moderate
NW, SW, NE, SE
Shrubs
Scientific Name
Common Name
Salt tolerance
NW/SW/NE/SE/Keys
Ardisia escallonioides
marlberry
moderate
SW, SE, Keys
Argusia gnaphalodes
sea lavender
high
SE, Keys
Chrysobalanus icaco
coco plum
moderate
SW, SE, Keys
Erythrina herbacea
coral bean
low
all
Eugenia axillaris
white stopper
low
SW, SE, Keys
Eugenia foetida
Spanish stopper
low
SW, SE, Keys
Forestiera segregata
Florida privet
low
SW, NE, SE, Keys
Ilex vomitoria
yaupon
moderate
NW/SW, NE, SE
Myrica cerifera
wax myrtle
moderate
all
Quercus geminata
sand live oak
moderate
NW, SW, NE, SE
Quercus myrtifolia
myrtle oak
moderate
NW, SW, NE, SE
Rapanea punctata
myrsine
moderate
SW, SE, Keys
Serenoa repens
saw palmetto
high
all
Suriana maritima
bay cedar
high
SW, SE, Keys
Zamia pumila
coontie
moderate
SW, NE, SE, Keys
Thorn/Scrub Plants
Scientific Name
Common Name
Salt tolerance
NW/SW/NE/SE/Keys
Agave decipiens
false sisal
high
SW, SE, Keys
Guilandina bonduc
gray nickerbean
moderate
SW, SE, Keys
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection
Coastal Construction Control Line Program
[email protected]
(850) 245-2094
Recommended Florida Beach and Dune Plants August 3, 2021 Page 4
Scientific Name
Common Name
Salt tolerance
NW/SW/NE/SE/Keys
Erythrina herbacea
coral bean
low
all
Opuntia spp.
prickly pears
high
all
Serenoa repens
saw palmetto
high
all
Sideroxylon tenax
tough bully
low
NE, SE
Smilax auriculata
earleaf catbrier
moderate
all
Ximenia americana
hog plum
low
NE, SE
Yucca aloifolia
Spanish bayonet
high
all
Yucca filamentosa
Adam’s needle
moderate
NW, SW, NE, SE
Yucca gloriosa
moundlily yucca
moderate
NW, SW, NE
Zanthoxylum clava-hercules
Hercules’ club
moderate
NW, SW, NE, SE
Zanthoxylum fagara
wild lime
moderate
SW, NE, SE, Keys
Trees
Scientific Name
Common Name
Salt tolerance
NW/SW/NE/SE/Keys
Acacia farnesiana
sweet acacia
moderate
all
Baccharis halimifolia
salt bush
high
all
Bursera simaruba
gumbo limbo
moderate
SW, SE, Keys
Capparis cynophallophora
Jamaica caper
moderate
SW, SE, Keys
Celtis laevigata
hackberry
low
NW, SW, NE, SE
Chrysophyllum oliviforme
satinleaf
moderate
SE, Keys
Citharexylum spinosum
fiddleleaf
moderate
SE, Keys
Coccoloba diversifolia
pigeon plum
high
SW, SE, Keys
Coccoloba uvifera
sea grape
high
SW, SE, Keys
Conocarpus erectus
buttonwood
high
SW, SE, Keys
Cordia sebestena
Geiger tree
moderate
SW, SE, Keys
Ficus aurea
golden fig
moderate
SW, SE, Keys
Ilex x. attenuata
East Palatka holly
low
NW, SW, NE, SE
Ilex cassine
dahoon holly
low
NW, SW, NE, SE
Ilex opaca
American holly
low
NW, SW, NE, SE
Ilex vomitoria
yaupon holly
moderate
NW, SW, NE, SE
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection
Coastal Construction Control Line Program
[email protected]
(850) 245-2094
Recommended Florida Beach and Dune Plants August 3, 2021 Page 5
Scientific Name
Common Name
Salt tolerance
NW/SW/NE/SE/Keys
Juniperus silicicola
southern red cedar
moderate
NW, SW, NE, SE
Laguncularia racemosa
white mangrove
high
SW, SE, Keys
Magnolia grandiflora
southern magnolia
moderate
NW, SW, NE
Pinus clausa
sand pine
moderate
NW, SW, NE, SE
Pinus elliottii (S. Fla = var. densa)
slash pine
moderate
NW, SW, NE, SE , Keys
Quercus geminata
sand live oak
moderate
NW, SW, NE, SE
Quercus virginiana
live oak
moderate
NW, SW, NE, SE, Keys
Sideroxylon foetidissimum
False mastic
moderate
SW, SE, Keys
Palms
Scientific Name
Common Name
Salt tolerance
NW/SW/NE/SE/Keys
Acoelorraphe wrightii
Everglades palm
moderate
SW, SE, Keys
Coccothrinax argentata
silver palm
high
SE, Keys
Sabal palmetto
cabbage palm
high
all
Serenoa repens
saw palmetto
high
all
Leucothrinax morrisii
brittle thatch palm
moderate
Keys
Thrinax radiata
Florida thatch palm
moderate
Keys
For more information call Fritz Wettstein at 850/245-8020 or email fritz.wettstein@floridadep.gov
.
Coastal Construction Control Line Program, Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection,
Florida Department of Environmental Protection, 2600 Blair Stone Road, Mail Station 3522, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400
850/245-8336 voice 850/245-8499 fax, cccl@dep.state.fl.us
.