Native Shrubs of the Soundside Community
The Soundside area has many elevations as you stroll along the numerous paths throughout our development. Some of the species that we would like to make note of in Soundside are listed below. We encourage incorporation of as many native trees, shrubs and vegetation as possible in the home site landscaping design. Most native species require very little maintenance and enhance berm areas.
Sweet Bay
(1) Sweet Bay or Silver Bays are well known because just about every low spot, stream bank, or spring head has a number of these medium to small trees. The evergreen leaves show their silvery undersides when the wind blows and almost seem to sparkle. This bay tree has rather small flowers. white and lemony-fragrant, whose structure clearly indicates this species' relationship to the magnolias. Small fruiting "cones" turn bright red when ripe and have numerous small red seeds which attract birds.
Saw Palmetto
The Saw Palmetto is easy to recognize by touching its stems of sharp saw teeth. This palm once had great value to the Florida Indians. Its fruit was a staple food in their diet and its fronds were used for making roofs and baskets. It grows in sandy soil and is a common understudy plant in the area
Conradina
Conradina is a small shrub that belongs to the mint family. This plant grows on dry sandy soils of Santa Rosa Island as well as the mainland coastal areas. The tiny lance shaped leaves are pale green, aromatic and clustered along the stern. It blooms in the spring with many small lavender flowers. The leaves emit a very pleasant odor when crushed.
Deer Moss
Deer Moss is sphagnum that lives directly on top of sand. It looks like a sponge and has the ability to resist drought. Dry, dead looking moss becomes green after rain. Such adaptive features add much to anchor a berm area.
Wax Myrtle
Wax Myrtle is a member of the bayberry family, with a yellow resin on the leaves giving it a golden brown cast. It's very aromatic when crushed and was once used in candle making. An attractive shrub/tree that is very low maintenance in landscaping.
Ti-Ti
Ti-Ti, also known as Swamp Cyrilla, American Cyrilia, White Ti-Ti, Leatherwood and Ironwood, is a semi-evergreen shrub or small tree with attractive small white flowers and fruiting capsules arranged in narrow, often clustered, lateral racemes. Though usually not over 15' high, it can sometimes reach 25 to 30' in height with a trunk diameter of 10 to 14'. Ti-Ti is an important honey plant and is a source of the nectar bees in making the excellent "Ti-Ti honey".
Yaupon Holly
Yaupon Holly, a small-leafed evergreen shrub, is a hardy relative o1 the well known American holly. The dried leaves were used during the Civil War as a substitute for coffee since they are a source of caffeine. Too strongly brewed however, the leaves can induce vomiting (scientific name is Ilex Vomitoria). The berries ripen in the fall to a yellow/orange or red color.
Evergreen Blueberry
Evergreen Blueberry is an erect evergreen shrub up to 3' tall and has a long, smooth, club shaped leaves with 1/2" long, urn shaped, pink/white flowers. The Blueberry produces 1/2", purple/black, edible berries, it is common to both dry and wet areas of Soundside.
Partridgeberry
The Partridgeberry, Twinberry or Twin Flower is a creeping, moist woodland perennial with paired tubular flowers. The colorful red fruit is edible though it is tasteless. It is apparently eaten only as a last resort by wildlife, since the berries often remain on the plant for months. The flowers bloom from April to .lone with the berries ripening in August or September, often persisting until the following spring. Partridgeberry is one of the most adaptable and easy-to-grow groundcovers for the home gardener in the South.
Fetterbush
Fetterbush or Lantern Bush grows in swamps and along streams and is especially attractive when in bloom. The bell-shaped flowers hang downward along the stems, while the fruits turn upward. The leaves have veins around the lower sides of the margins, allowing the plants to be easily identified by touch. Dark green leaves are very similar to the camellia leaf.
Muscadine Grape
Muscadine Grape plants can climb high into the trees by means of unbranched tendrils. The alternate, simple, grape shaped leaves may have tendrils or fruit clusters opposite them. The vines make good baskets and wreaths.
Florida Rosemary
Florida Rosemary is scattered over dunes and other high, well drained areas. The small evergreen leaves remind you of a Fir. The round bush, several feet high, gives a faint and pleasant fragrance.
Gallberry
Gallberry is a type of holly that forms large thickets 2 to 5' tall in damp, sunny areas. The berries are inky black and bitter tasting when mature, remaining on the plant all winter. The evergreen leaves are 1 to 2" long and have only a few teeth near the top.
Gopher-apple
Gopher-apple is a small shrub up to 12" tall with horizontal underground stems making it appear to be many separate small Oak or Cherry Laurel seedlings. Mature fruit is eaten by land turtles (Gophers) and people seeking a new flavor.