Hobbies And Interests
Fantail Palm
The Mexican fantail palm tree (Washingtonia robusta) was introduced into Florida from its habitat in the river washes and gullies of Northern Mexico, Baja, Southern California and Arizona. The fantail palm is fast-growing and frost-, drought- and salt-resistant. It will grow well in most soil types. Slender-trunked street fantail palms lining the boulevards of Florida sometimes attain heights of 80 to 100 feet. When the large palmate leaves die off, the fronds form a large flammable clump that is best removed.
Conspicuous Species
Some of the more noticeable Florida native species include the dwarf palmetto (Sabal minor) plants that you can see growing en masse across large swaths of the northern part of the state. The coastal prickly pear (Opuntia stricta) and the inland growing Opuntia humifusa are Florida's two cactus species. Three kinds of yuccas and one agave grow wild in Florida. Many species of grass are indigenous to Florida, including large stands of big and bush bluestem along with buffalo grass, sea oats, switch grass and purple lovegrass.
Flowers
Florida is blessed with lots of native flowers; the pine lily, which is one of the loveliest, grows in the flat-woods of central Florida. Acanthus water willows and wild petunias grow alongside the many species of lilies from the amaryllis family. Florida has four species of lobelia and five members of the carrot family. Eighteen species of daisies grow in Florida, including the black-eyed Susan and the beach sunflower. In addition, a trio of poinsettia species are Florida natives.
Rare Plants
Florida has more rare indigenous plants that any other state besides California, many of which have been deemed endangered or threatened by the federal, state or local government. The federal government designates 54 endangered species, while the Florida Department of Agriculture lists around 500. For example, delicate, orchid-like flowering plants such as Dicerandra are found only in very small local habitat pockets. Many kinds of herbs, ferns, orchids and shrubs are in danger of becoming extinct.