Page 8 - Southern Exposure - November '21
P. 8
Page 8, Southern Exposure
northern noteS
Fall And Winter In Florida
By Katie Roundtree, Finance Director, Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District
Many people come to aggressive and will take over turf areas which are thin our beautiful plants that love this weather just as much
Florida to enjoy its mild from irrigation, bug or fungus problems. Proper mowing as we do. There are so many reasons to live in Florida,
fall and winter but miss and irrigation will help to control its spread. including enjoyment of our native plants. Happy holidays
the changing seasons and So, enjoy the changing seasons here in Florida, with to all of you!
seasonal plant changes that
the northern regions offer.
Here in Florida, we have
our own kinds of plants that
bloom during the fall and
winter that give our area a
feeling of the cooler seasons
up north. During October
and November, muhly grass blooms with beautiful pink,
red or purple blooms, creating vistas of color in our
landscaped areas, dry detention areas and road medians.
During the drier winter months, pusley (also known as
“Florida snow”) blooms with white or light purple flowers
that blanket lawns and sides of roads creating the look of
“snow.” Muhly grass in Abacoa dry detention areas. Photos by Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District staff
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Florida pusley (Richardia scabra). Photo by The Palm Beach
Post, Kimberly Miller
Muhly grass is a native landscape plant that has
found favor with landscapers for its ease of growth and Sally S Stahl, AAMS®
large clusters of tall, grass-like appearance. Known Financial Advisor
scientifically as Muhlenbergia capillaris, this easy-to-
grow ornamental grass produces clumps that can reach 2 1851 W Indiantown Rd Ste 106
Jupiter, FL 33458
to 3 feet tall and up to 3 feet wide when mature. During 561-748-7600
the fall, particularly in the month of October, it produces www.edwardjones.com
fluffy pink and purple flower stalks that can reach up to M e m b P I S r e C
5 feet tall and give the plant a distinctive and attractive
appearance. A large amount of them can be seen in the dry
detention areas within Abacoa. When in bloom, a carpet
of pink unfolds and greets residents and visitors with
beautiful colors. Muhly grass looks good in the garden
even after the flower stalks fade, thanks to its slender,
dark green foliage. (Source: University of Florida IFAS)
Florida pusley (Richardia scabra), on the other hand,
is a native plant that is beloved by some and hated by
others. With funnel-shaped flowers of white, pink or light
purple, pusley, nicknamed Florida snow, can be a burden
or beauty depending on perspective. It’s drought tolerant
and attracts butterflies, but turf purists may rebuke the
invading ground cover as a weed. Some people embrace it
and use it to accent their holiday decorations, even adding
light-up snowmen on top to create a winter wonderland
scene. However, others striving for the perfect lawn,
struggle to remove this plant. It has very small seeds
and is drought tolerant, allowing for proliferation during
Florida’s typically drier winter months. This weed is