Is porterweed invasive?

Is porterweed invasive?

A prolific bloomer, nettle-leaf porterweed is popular in cultivation and is now naturalized in tropical regions throughout the world, including Africa, Melanesia and Australia. In Florida, it is listed by the Florida Exotic Plant Pest Council as a category II invasive species for the southern portion of the state.

Is blue porterweed invasive in Florida?

But we do have to include a note of caution: make sure you buy the right blue porterweed — the name is also attached to a similarly looking cousin, Stachytarpheta cayennensis, that the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council lists as an invasive.

Is porterweed an annual or perennial?

In the warmer parts of zone 8b we find that the larger growing Porterweeds, like Lavender, Coral, and Purple, occasionally return from the roots in late spring if well mulched. In zone 10 it is likely to be a reliable perennial if not evergreen. Porterweed is known to reseed, particularly in mild winter climates.

Will porterweed grow in shade?

Blue porterweed plants grow best in full sun to partial shade. If you’re planting them as groundcover, space the plants out by 2.5 to 3 feet (1 m.). As they grow, they will spread out and create an attractive continuous bed of flowering shrub.

Will porterweed come back after a freeze?

It’s considered evergreen though it can lose leaves in a harsh winter (but generally comes back in spring).

Is porterweed native to Florida?

Plant Description: Porterweed is an annual in North Florida, but may overwinter if protected from the cold. The Florida native S. jamaicensis has a low- growing, sprawling habit and stays below 1 foot tall not including its blue-flowered spikes.

How big does blue porterweed get?

about 4 feet tall
Porterweed is a small perennial shrub that becomes woody toward the base of the stem as is grows to about one year old. Plants grow about 4 feet tall by 6 feet wide before stems droop and touch the ground. Blue or pink flowers are borne terminally on long, stringy spikes at the ends of the stems.

Should porterweed be trimmed?

You may want to trim the shrub occasionally to keep it shaped. Cut it back hard in spring (late March or early April) to encourage new growth to keep it full and bushy. Fertilize in spring, summer, and fall with a good granular fertilizer.

What is porterweed good for?

We don’t recommend it, but blue porterweed is reported to have a wide range of medicinal uses, from treating fungal infections to high blood pressure, colds, constipation, diarrhea, boils, burns, earache, headache, allergies, worms, and “nervous pains.”

Is porterweed a Florida native plant?

Do hummingbirds like porterweed?

Porterweed (Stachytarpheta jamaicensis), particularly the non-native pink or red varieties, although hummingbirds will nectar on the low-growing native porterweed once they discover it. Butterflies and hummingbirds nectar on brilliant red flowers and birds eat the berries that follow them.

Are there hummingbirds in Florida Keys?

In some parts of the Florida Keys in the winter you will see hummingbirds sitting on telephone lines in between feeding sessions. We have only one breeding species, the ruby-throated hummingbird, and it isn’t everywhere.