Bay Cedar
Suriana maritima

This is one of our most salt tolerant shrubs. It is found mixed with sea oats or along the edge of salt marshes from the Keys to as far north as Indian River County. It tolerates salt breezes and some flooding during storms. The soil must be moist and well drained with low to moderate amounts of organic matter.

The small yellow flowers produce quarter inch cups with three seeds in them. Although the seeds germinate quickly, they die very easily, which makes propagation difficult.

The normal size is less than six feet although with proper care they can reach ten feet or more. The larva of the mallow and the martial scrub hairstreak butterfly feed on the foliage.

Mix with sea lavender, sea oats, beach elder, native scaevola, beach cocolum, prickly pear cactus, salt meadow cordgrass and sea purslane. It needs extra watering and fertilizer if planted inland yet no extra care if planted along the coast.