Frostweed (Verbesina virginica) - 1 Gallon
ID: #795131
Description
Frostweed ( Verbesina virginica ) is a perennial wildflower in the Aster family whose native habitat includes the moist edges of forests and stream banks from Pennsylvania west to central Texas and south to Florida. With clusters of showy, 3-6 inch white disc flowers that branch off a winged stem, this plant can easily grow to 4-6 feet and typically blooms from August through first frost when its stem splits as its sap and water seep out and freeze into curled icy ribbons. The plant then becomes an interesting garden focal point until temperatures rise and the ice sculpture melts. An important nectar source for native bees and butterflies (including Monarchs, Pipevine Swallowtails, and Great Purple Hairstreaks), frostweed also supports Spring Azure and Silvery Checkerspot caterpillars further to our north. Frostweed is a great transitional plant between fully manicured garden areas and more natural wildflower plantings. Plant it with Spanish needles ( Bidens alba ) for an all-white long-lasting feast for pollinators or interject pops of purple with blazing stars (Liatris spp.) for a fall bounty for bees and butterflies. Frostweed can tolerate a range of sun and moisture conditions: full sun and drier conditions promote a more compact form and more blooms. Pruning by 1/3 in May or June will also promote a fuller plant. Short-lived perennial Size: 4 – 5 Ft. Flower: Showy, white Exposure: Full or partial shade Moisture level: Medium to occasionally wet Soil: Clay, loam, sand Propagation: Seed or division when dormant Recommended as a background plant in a wildflower garden Nectar source for Monarch butterflies /djs
Price
$9.00
Last Updated
10 August 2026, 10:38 UTC
Store Information
physical store
Location
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Blue Porterweed (Stachytarpheta jamaicensis)
$6.00
There is but a single species native, or presumably native, to Florida, and that is Blue porterweed, Stachytarpheta jamaicensis. The typical height of only 0.5 to 1 feet with a sprawling habit to about 3 feet. It is best used as ground cover in a garden with extremely well drained soil as its typicaly habitat includes coastal dunes and disturbed areas - not a plant you want to overwater! Butterflies and other pollinators love it. It does best in full sun to part shade. Blue porterweed is not frost tolerant and can potentially die if exposed to temperatures below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Pruning it back typically provides for new growth if it gets burned by a freeze. The blooms are edible and have a taste similar to mushrooms and look cute on salads. The flower spikes can be used similarly to how a bay leaf is used in cooking. This plant gets its name "porter"weed as there is a natural foam that will build up from dried leaves if made into a tea or brewed into a beer. There is /AC
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Wild Coffee (Psychotria nervosa)
$11.00
Wild coffee - Psychotria nervosa , also known as Seminole balsamo, is a shade-tolerant medium-sized evergreen shrub, with glossy leaves, which grows to 4' and native to Florida. It will typically only reach 4' in full sun and will grow much taller in shade. So while it grows in sun or shade, it will do best in partial to full shade. Its small white blooms in spring are a great nectar source for bees and other pollinators. It produces a small, red fruit that resembles "the true coffee bean" in shape and attract birds. Though the "beans" contain no caffeine, they can be roasted and consumed as a coffee-like beverage. The seeds turn black in late winter. It is moderately salt-tolerant. It is also the host plant for the Coffee-loving pyrausta - Pyrausta laticlavia moth.
Aquatic Milkweed (Asclepias perennis)
$1.25
Aquatic milkweed ( Asclepias perennis ) a great evergreen Florida native perennial milkweed, but quite a different species from Swamp Milkweed ( A. incarnata) . It can survive lower amounts of direct sunlight than our other native species, while also handling full sun. It can become lankier during the season but a terrific native as it is available all year to our beloved Monarchs. Aquatic milkweed can tolerate 2-3 months of drought in our Florida sandy soils but also does very well in extremely wet and nearly underwater conditions during the Florida rainy seasons. A mature height in the late spring can reach about 2 - 3' feet. Each is densely covered by lance-shaped deep green leaves approximately 3-5 inches in length. I have witnessed during a few years of milkweed research studies in Central Florida this plant flowers and pushes seed pods in Florida winter months. The flowers are bright white with an occasional hue of pale pink before opening. This wildflower is commonly propagated for home gardeners and is quite hardy. It is also a good specimen for container growing. I plant it in shady areas around my yard that get a mix of filtered sun and shade as well as some areas that are full sun - the plants do well in pretty much any condition Florida seems to throw at it. If you have sprinklers hitting it regularly, it will receive enough water from my experience of having it side by side with 7 other milkweed species. This one is my favorite since it grows year round in Florida!