Bay Cedar

This attractive, shrubby plant has the look of a cedar, hence the common name. The leaves have a mild cedar-like fragrance on occasion. S...Read More. maritima is native to rocky shorelines, beaches, coastal dunes, coastal scrubs, sandy seaside and inland (just behind the dunes) thickets. It is native to coastal areas of central and southern Florida (including the Florida Keys), the Bahamas, the Caribbean and tropical America.

This shrub can also grow in a somewhat tree-like habit. It is a spreading shrub with cedar-like bark and evergreen "needles" (leaves) that grows from 8 to 12 feet tall and sometimes more. It frequently reaches 6 to 8 feet tall as well as lower and more scrubby in habit.

S. maritima grows well in zones 9b through 11. It is highly salt-tolerant, drought-tolerant and is at least somewhat to moderately wind-tolerant, taking salt spray, rain and wind - including the threat of the occasional tropical storm or hurricane.

S. maritima is highly useful for a native plant garden and/or wildlife garden. It is excellent for xeriscaping with other native or drought-tolerant plants, especially other coastal native species (e.g., Sea Grape, Spanish Bayoney, Bay Bean, Railroad Vine, Beachstar, Sea Torchwood, Sea Oats and many, many, many other species). It is highly useful for beach and dune restoration/establishment as well and for coastal landscaping. It helps protect the dunes, along with other coastal species.

S. maritima has attractive bark and leaves as well as flowers. The flowers are pale to bright yellow and are small to medium. They often bloom in profusion, and attract many pollinating insects, including bees. In addition, at least two species of butterflies - the Martial Scrub-Hairstreak (Strymon martialis) and Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak (Strymon istapa) - rely on S. maritima for food in their larval (caterpillar) stage.

S. maritima is threatened by rapid coastal destruction for development, such as for condos, as well as by at least some other factors potentially.