Florida Hydrangea – Dombeya x ‘Seminole’

General Landscape Uses: Specimen plant, accent shrub, butterfly gardens, informal hedge Ecological Restoration Notes: Not used for restoration. It is a cultivated hybrid (not native) and is not considered invasive. Description: A mounding, multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with large, heart-shaped (cordate) leaves that have a coarse, slightly fuzzy texture. Dimensions: Height 6 – 8 ft.; Spread 6 – 8 ft. Growth Rate: Fast Native Range: Tropical Africa and Madagascar  Native Habitats: Forest margins and scrublands Soils: Well-drained, sand, loam, limestone Nutritional Requirements: Moderate Salt Water Tolerance: Low Salt Wind Tolerance: Low Drought Tolerance: Moderate Light Requirements: Full to part sun Flower Color: Pink Flower Characteristics: Large, hemispherical clusters of 5-petaled flowers. Flowering Season: Late fall to spring Fruit: Rarely produces fruit; usually sterile or non-showy. Wildlife and Ecology: Highly attractive to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, providing a vital food source when other tropical plants are dormant. Horticultural Notes: Propagated by air layering, cuttings Comments: In South Florida, it is often called the “Azalea of the South” because it provides a massive flush of color in a climate where true azaleas often struggle. It is cold hardy to about 25°F–30°F; frost may damage the leaves, but the plant usually rebounds quickly in the spring.