Florida Snow for Thanksgiving

Richardia grandiflora or "Florida Snow" in Florida
is also known as Largeflower Mexican Clover

An invasive flower sometimes referred to as "Florida Snow" is blooming again this year along road medians, shoulders and in yards throughout Central and South Florida.  Because the plant blooms better in drier weather it is very prevalent now as we've had almost 2 months with virtually no rainfall post Hurricane-Irma.

Follow Phillip

@majikphil

The fast growing blizzard has started to cover grassy strips in large patches throughout Florida as the plant races north up the peninsula.  Large numbers of the plants are now seen blooming as far north as Volusia County on the east coast, Ocala National Forest on the Central Peninsula, and Spring Hill on the west coast.

Thanksgiving Words

Impossible to control because of its tiny seeds it is best to admire this invasive species for its ability to thrive where just about everything else is wilted and brown.

The first three images posted here were taken in the most unlikely of places, a swale between two seaside dunes in New Smyrna Beach, where nothing else except the toughest sand oaks, saw palmettos, and other tough native dune plants thrive and most species barely survive, this Richardia grandiflora is covering the dunes.

Colloquially the flower goes by many names.  Horticulturists call it "Largeflower Pusley."  Others refer to it as "Rough Mexican Clover," a misleading term because the plant is not from Mexico and is not a clover.

The herb's botanical name is Richardia grandiflora.  The plant is native to Brazil and elsewhere in South America.

It's uncertain when exactly it got to Florida, but the perennial weed now infests at least 40 counties along the central and southern Florida peninsula.

The plant resembles a Florida native, Richardia scabra, or "Mexican Clover" which is found as far north as Indiana, west to Texas and up the east coast to New Jersey.  R. scarba's blooms are much smaller, whiter and less noticeable.

Above, the native and less shows Richardia scabra in extreme close-up.  The flowers are maybe a 10th the size of the South American interloper.

Although often considered a nuisance on yards and pastures, the flower's spread has its upsides. Pusley provides a low-maintenance, drought- and cold-tolerant cohabitant with turf grass to help keep soil erosion in check. And it provides nectar for butterflies and bees, important pollinators.  On the flip side it is obviously crowding out native species as evidenced by its proliferation.

Largeflower pusley is closely related to several tropical plants such as ixora, gardenia, penta firebush and wild coffee, according to a 2011 report about the plant by the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

Endangered Mint Only Grows in Brevard on ridge from Titusville to Mims (Dicerandra thinicola — aka Titusville balm or Titusville mint)

This pusley blanketing Florida belongs to a family of plants that includes three very common, look-alike weeds, distinguished by different-sized flowers and the texture of the leaves.

The flowers grow so low to the ground that mower blades often miss them. Cutting lawns low enough to get the pusley would damage and stress the grass.

The weed can live year-round and tolerate temperatures as low as 10° (-12.2° C).

While grass around it wilts during drought, the pusley perseveres.

The Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council lists the plant as Category II, among the state's most invasive species. Category I are species disrupting native plants and causing ecological damage. Category II are invasive plants that show potential to disrupt native plants but haven't yet to a significant extent.  We suspect Florida Snow will be moving up the list as soon as the Council notices the extent of its spread northward.

Some of the best images of Florida snow can be found at Pam and Richard Winegar's Naturetime Blog 

(photos above and below by Pam and Richard Winegar)

We're Following

Having performed mind-bending athletic feats practically since birth.  Falcons receiver Julio Jones has become a legend in his own time.  Do you believe in superheroes?

Outtakes from SI's Cover Shoot with Julio Jones

Happy Thanksgiving