Posted by:
Calparsoni
at Thu Apr 1 10:35:08 2010 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by Calparsoni ]
those are most likely crinum lilies as mentioned yesterday the 2 most likely candidates for exactly what species you are seeing is either crinum asiaticum or crinum pendunculatum from asia and australia respectively or possibly a hybrid of the 2 or perhaps a hybrid of one or both and some other species. You never know with commercially produced plants just what exactly they crossed to get the appearance they are looking for.
They are definitely not native but they do naturalize in some areas. Not enough to be called invasive but you will occasionally see a group of them growing somewhere where they shouldn't normally be.
btw this did get me thinking about a particular type of plant that I don't believe is on the radar yet for being an invasive but should be and in the context of the discussion will probably become a serious pest in the everglades.
That plant is ruellia or mexican petunia. It is a pretty plant with purple flowers which butterflies love and is incredibly versatile in the landscape as it is drought tolerant but also does just fine with it's feet wet as well.
The drought tolerence makes it really popular with all the water nazis who are obsessed with everyone xeriscaping. However I have already seen it begin taking over the edges of creeks and growing in boggy areas in a manner similar to cattails.
It used to be marketed as a "florida friendly" plant because of it's drought tolerance. I give it about 3 to 4 years and all of the sudden this plant will be a worse threat than the burms (which it potentially is.) From what I have seen in central fl so far if that plant gets into the glades(it probably has already) it will take over worse than water hyacinth or cattails at least it will look pretty.
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