This week, we are highlighting pineland heliotrope (Euploca polyphylla)! This beautiful wildflower is endemic to Florida and is found throughout many Florida counties. They can be found in a variety of habitats, including pine rocklands, flatwoods, and coastal thickets.

Pineland heliotrope prefers full sun to light shade and moist to dry, well-draining soils. These hardy wildflowers are tolerant of nutrient-poor soil, and, once established, are also drought-tolerant. They are also considered moderately salt-tolerant.

In more northern parts of their range, the pineland heliotrope goes dormant during winter. Here in South Florida, they tend to be more evergreen, but can become a bit sparse in the winter.

This wildflower blooms year-round in South Florida and can have either white or yellow flowers! In the eastern part of their range, pineland heliotrope tends to have yellow flowers and a more upright growth habit. However, in their western range, they tend to have white flowers and a lower growth habit. Although you can’t go wrong with either flower color, here at the homestead, we have a patch of the white flowering variety. It forms an excellent groundcover in our pollinator garden!

Incorporate pineland heliotrope into your garden as an attractive, low-maintenance wildflower that also provides an excellent source of nectar and food for our pollinators and wildlife! The showy clusters of yellow or white flowers are especially attractive to native butterflies.

For more information:

Florida Native Plant Society:

https://www.fnps.org/plant/euploca-polyphylla#gsc.tab=0

Florida Wildflower Foundation:

https://www.flawildflowers.org/flower-friday-euploca-polyphylla

Florida Plant Atlas:

https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/plant/species/1024