Color Focus - Local Flora
Local Flora
Though the local swamplands are known for their plethora of unique animal life, these ecosystems also house various interesting vegetation. From trees and native plants to invasive and colorful flowers and weeds, this region boasts a beautiful blend of wetland vegetation. The following is far from totality, and only represents a humble number of plants to be found in this wild and bountiful landscape.
Alligatorweed
Alligatorweed is a non-woody perennial plant that is considered an invasive weed in the area. It is found growing in waters or along aquatic shorelines but is not native to the area. It blooms from winter to spring with clusters of white clover-shaped flowers.
Cypress Trees
The most common inhabitant of deep-water swamps, cypress trees are characterized by their beautiful tall trunks, thin branches, and bright green, pointed leaves. These trees act as shelter for many animals in the swamp ecosystem, and they provide food for certain species that feed on sap. Though they weren’t initially native to the swamplands, cypress tress adapted over the years to handle the extremely wet conditions. Bald cypress prefer saturated or seasonally inundated wetland soils, low elevations, flat topography and humid climates. While it is a cone bearing member of the coniferous redwood family, it is in fact deciduous, losing its flat, one to two centimeter long needles in the winter, a characteristic that led to it being dubbed the “bald” cypress. “Cypress knees,” or protrusions that grow from the trees’ roots and stick out above the water are thought to help stabilize the tree against hurricane force winds and may aid in respiration for trees that are consistently standing in water.
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| Bald Cypress |
Duckweed
These small, floating plants are another characteristic of the swamplands, as you’ll commonly find them in larger bodies of water. Duckweed has three, green leaves that float on the surface in clumps. Occasionally, like Maiden's Hair moss, these weeds will also flower.
Garden Croton
The garden croton is a showy tropical display that does well indoors or in warm climates. Known for its attractive foliage, this plant can have both color and structural variations in its leaves. Leaf colors can include orange, yellow, scarlet, white, and green, and many times all are present on one plant.
Golden Pothos
The golden pothos is a popular flowering house plant that's commonly seen in the area. It goes by many nicknames, including "devil's ivy," because it is so hard to kill, and can grow in the dark. Golden pothos has poisonous sap, so it should be kept away from pets and children.
Green Creeper
The green creeper is a vine from the grape family that has it all - vigorous growth, fragrant flowers, decorative blue-colored berries, and leaves that turn crimson in the fall. Using small forked tendrils with adhesive pads, the green creeper will cling strongly to almost all surfaces. It can grow over entire walls, providing shelter and food for wildlife.
Maiden's Hair Moss
Visitors to the swamplands also commonly see Maiden's Hair moss draped around the branches of cypress trees. More of a plant than moss, Maiden's Hair moss has long, fuzzy leaves that droop down over each branch to create a scene unique to the swamp. This species also flowers in the right weather conditions.
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| Maiden's Hair Moss |
Salvinia
This lily pad-like plant is invasive to the area. In fact, it originated far to the south and thrives in warm, humid climates similar to its home ecosystem. Salvinia also floats on the water’s surface and creates a sturdy mat for small reptiles to maneuver over.
Snake Plant
A snake plant can be considered part house plant and part architectural display, as its sword-like leaves with bold striping patterns are distinctive and eye-catching. Use caution with this plant, however, because it is poisonous when ingested and can cause nausea, vomiting, and even swelling of the throat and tongue.
Spider Lilies
Spider lilies are also invasive to the swamplands, though they learned to thrive in the warm marches along the coast. These perennial flowers can grow to about two or three feet high. They come in either red or white with long, curling peddles that resemble a spider’s legs.
Tupelo
Another common tree, the tupelo prefers wet soils and seasonal flooding. Also called black gum, black or swamp tupelo is the most far ranging tupelo tree, extending throughout the entire area. The water tupelo has a range nearly identical to the bald cypress tree. Specialized roots allow it to live in consistently inundated environments, and its swollen base, tapering up a long trunk, provides stability in heavy winds and floods. Black and water tupelo wood is used extensively by artistic woodcarvers, especially for carving ducks and other wildfowl. Tupelo fruit, high in crude fat, fiber, phosphorous and calcium, is an important wildlife food source, and because of its many cavities, black tupelo is an important den tree species. The tree’s shiny, green, elliptical leaves vary from 2-5" in length and turn purple, then scarlet or yellow in autumn, making it a popular ornamental.
Vegetables and Fruits
Vegetables and fruit make up the majority of the diets of the lower and middle class. While many vegetables have been widely cultivated and grow readily in the nitrogen-rich soil, most can be found growing wild throughout the area. The list is quite sizable, and includes apples, asparagus, beets, blackberries, cabbage, cantaloupes, carrots, char, chilis, collard greens, corn, cucumbers, figs, garlic, grapes, leeks, lettuce, mandarins, melons, mushrooms, okra, onions, oranges, peaches, pears, peanuts, pecans, peppers, plums, potatoes, pumpkins, radishes, spinach, strawberries, tomatoes and watermelons.
Weeping Willow
The weeping willow is a medium to large deciduous landscape tree in the Salicaceae or willow family. With pendulous, weeping branches, a stout trunk, and a broad rounded crown it makes a statement in any landscape. It will grow quickly to a height of 30-40' and a width of 30-40' but with that rapid growth comes weak wood. The pendulous branches sweep down to the ground from the crown of the tree. The leaves are linear, lanceolate, light green on the upper surface, and glaucous or grayish-green beneath. The flowers are male and female green catkins that are about 1-2" long. They appear on separate male and female trees. This tree is frequently seen near ponds and streams.
The weeping willow is a medium to large deciduous landscape tree in the Salicaceae or willow family. With pendulous, weeping branches, a stout trunk, and a broad rounded crown it makes a statement in any landscape. It will grow quickly to a height of 30-40' and a width of 30-40' but with that rapid growth comes weak wood. The pendulous branches sweep down to the ground from the crown of the tree. The leaves are linear, lanceolate, light green on the upper surface, and glaucous or grayish-green beneath. The flowers are male and female green catkins that are about 1-2" long. They appear on separate male and female trees. This tree is frequently seen near ponds and streams.
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| Weeping Willow |