Photo by: Mark Hutchinson, Hernando Chapter, FNPS
Photo by: Mark Hutchinson, Hernando Chapter, FNPS
Photo by: John Lampkin, Nature Coast FNPS
Photo by: John Lampkin, Nature Coast FNPS
Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
Photo by: Ginny Stibolt, Ixia Chapter FNPS
Photo by: Ginny Stibolt, Ixia Chapter FNPS
Photo by: Ginny Stibolt, Ixia Chapter FNPS
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Nomenclature

Common Name:

snow squarestem, salt & pepper

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Melanthera nivea

Family:

Asteraceae (Compositae)

Plant Specifics

Form:

flower

Size:

2-5 ft tall by 2-4 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

NA

Phenology:

winter dormant

Noted For:

Showy Flowers

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Use in a butterfly garden or informal wildflower garden.

Considerations:

Can get rangy and may need pruning. Reseeds, so plant it where that's not a problem.

Availability:

Seed

Propagation:

Seed.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Coming Soon!

Somewhat moist, no flooding ---to--- Somewhat long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Loam, Lime Rock

Soil pH:

adaptable (usually acidic)

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B,10A,10B,11

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Butterflies

Heavily used by butterflies, skippers, bees, and wasps for nectar.  This plant is an insect magnet.

Native Habitats:

Edges of upland hardwood forests, hydric hammocks, maritime hammocks, pine flatwoods, pine-oak-hickory woods, calcareous hammocks, coastal hammocks, open areas.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

Although it has square stems and opposite leaves like members of the mint family (Lamiaceae), this is a member of the daisy family, but it has no ray florets that look like petals. All the florets in the flower head are fertile.