CHARLES REYNOLDS: Exotic competition for native nectar plants
Florida boasts a wealth of butterflies, bees and hummingbirds. But many of those critters are feasting on exotic nectar instead of exploiting nativ...
Florida boasts a wealth of butterflies, bees and hummingbirds. But many of those critters are feasting on exotic nectar instead of exploiting native sources. For example, two non-native porterweeds (Stachytarpheta species) are multiplying in the wild, replacing our native blue porterweed. That's not surprising because the exotics, including coral snakeweed and nettle leaf porterweed, are sometimes mislabeled in nurseries. In addition, the exotics can grow 6 to 7 feet tall, literally putting our sprawling, 1-to-3-foot native in the shade.