Native Plants
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Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
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Monday - February 04, 2008
From: Ocala, FL
Region: Southeast
Topic: Groundcovers
Title: Native ground cover to replace grass in Florida.
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Where can I find a list of ground covers to replace my grass. I live in the south of Ocala Florida.ANSWER:
The Native Plant Society of Florida has lists of native plants to use for landscaping in Florida. You can search by county and I believe you are in Marion County.Here are a few recommendations from their list for groundcovers that do well in Marion County, Florida:
Dyschoriste oblongifolia (oblongleaf snakeherb)
Licania michauxii (gopher apple)
Mimosa strigillosa (powderpuff)
Mitchella repens (partridgeberry)
Phyla nodiflora (turkey tangle frogfruit)
Sisyrinchium angustifolium (narrowleaf blue-eyed grass)
You can also see a list of Florida Recommended native plants on our web site. Here are several recommendations from this list that would serve well as groundcovers:
Ceratiola ericoides (sand heath)
Chamaecrista nictitans ssp. nictitans (sensitive partridge pea)
Gaylussacia dumosa (dwarf huckleberry)
Also, you might consider one of the sedges, such as:
Carex blanda (eastern woodland sedge)
Carex cherokeensis (Cherokee sedge)
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