Landscape performance of 3 Polygonella wildflower species native to Florida.

Thetford, Mack; O'Donoughue, Alison E.; Wilson, Sandra B.; Pérez, Hector E.

Largeleaf jointweed (Polygonella macrophylla Small), October flower (Polygonella polygama (Vent. Engelm. & A. Gray), and sandhill wireweed (Polygonella robusta (Small) G.L. Neson & V.M. Bates) are wildflowers of the Polygonaceae that exhibit good form and showy flower displays within their natural growing environments. Softwood cuttings of each Polygonella species were collected from natural areas in Florida and produced in standard #1 (3.7 l) containers to evaluate the establishment, growth, and flowering of the 3 species within 3 distinct growing regions of Florida. Plants of each species produced from cuttings were evaluated in common-garden landscape trials located in north (Milton), central (Gainesville), and south (Fort Pierce) Florida. All 3 Polygonella species outplanted successfully at each location, and survival exceeded 80% within 28 wk after planting. Flower impact, visual quality, and growth of each species varied by location and time, with peak performance occurring in November.

POLYGONACEAE; EUCALYPTUS robusta; COMMON witch hazel; WILD flowers; SPECIES

Native Plants Journal (University of Wisconsin Press), 2018, Vol 19, Issue 3, p239

1522-8339

Academic Journal

10.3368/npj.19.3.239