Endangered Native Plants for Conservation Gardens

Overview

Plants become endangered when habitat loss, construction, wildlife pressure, or fire threaten extinction. Cultivating endangered natives in your garden helps preserve them and raises ecological awareness.

Needle Palm (Rhapidophyllum hystrix)

Evergreen palm for shade, indoors, or containers. Listed endangered in Florida. 6 feet tall, multi-stemmed, 4–10 inch dark needles, 4-foot leaves (green top, silver underside). Yellow-purple flowers, red/brown fuzzy seeds. Plant in moist, well-drained soil, full to partial shade. Propagate by division or seed. Low maintenance.

Ashe Magnolia (Magnolia macrophylla subsp. ashei)

Fragrant small tree, rarely over 20 feet. 1–2 foot leaves, 10–12 inch cream-white saucer flowers, pinkish-purple fruit. Plant in shade or sun, rich moist well-drained soil. Propagate by seed (remove pulp) or early summer greenwood cuttings.

Blunt-Leaved Peperomia (Peperomia obtusifolia)

Evergreen perennial for shade, indoors, containers. 6–9 inch stems, 1–6 inch dark green or variegated leaves. Green-white flowers on 2–4 inch spikes. Plant in organic soil, medium shade/filtered light, high humidity. Propagate by stem/leaf cuttings or division.

Woody Goldenrod (Chrysoma pauciflosculosa)

Evergreen, drought-tolerant shrub, 2–3 feet tall, 3–4 feet wide. Gray stems, gray-green 2-inch leaves. Yellow flowers late summer. Full sun. Propagate by spring tip cuttings and winter seed collection.

Pitcherplant (Sarracenia spp.)

Wetland perennial, 4 inches to 3 feet tall. Spring flowers on stalks. Full sun, wet soil. Propagate by seed or spring division.