Stay in the know about wildlife, water quality, and ecosystems on Sanibel and Captiva Islands and in Southwest Florida
Meet the Natives: Bay Cedar
Bay cedar (Suriana maritima) is a highly salt-tolerant, evergreen coastal shrub that can be found throughout South Florida, the Caribbean, Central America, and the Bahamas.
“It grows naturally in dune habitats and coastal scrubs, and — when left to establish and spread —can form thickets that help prevent dune erosion,” said SCCF Native Landscapes & Garden Center Assistant Sophie Carpenter. “Because of its coastal habitat, it is highly salt- and wind-tolerant.”
Despite its name, bay cedar is actually not a cedar, and is the only species within its genus, Suriana.
Bay cedar can grow to about 10 feet high and is relatively slow growing. It prefers full sun to part-shade and well-draining soil. This shrub blooms periodically throughout the year, producing small, five-petaled, yellow flowers.
Like other beach species, bay cedar has several adaptations to help it survive often harsh coastal conditions, such as heat and prolonged sunlight.
“Their leaves are lighter in color to help reflect sunlight, which prevents them from drying out or getting scorched from the sun. The leaves are also slightly succulent and downy, which help the plant retain moisture,” Carpenter said. “Additionally, their seeds are adapted to spend prolonged periods in saltwater and are able to travel long distances before washing ashore and germinating.”
Bay cedar is also an excellent plant for wildlife. Its year-round blooms provide nectar for multiple pollinator species, and its seeds are eaten by birds.
It is also the larval host plant for two of Florida’s native butterflies: the martial scrub-hairstreak (Strymon martialis) and the mallow scrub-hairstreak (Strymon istapa).
Purchase or check out bay cedar for yourself at SCCF’s Native Landscapes & Garden Center at 1300 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, FL from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday!
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