Plant of the Month

The Pawpaw Chapter features a different native plant at each meeting where one of our members talks about the plant. Normally the presentation includes photos, a description and/or features of the plant, usually including personal observations and experience with this particular native and often historical or ethnobotanical information as well. While many make this a powerpoint style presentation, that is not required and presentors are encouraged to use their ingenuity and talents in any way the suits them. Plant of the month presentations should be limited to a maximum of about 10 minutes. Also suggested is to bring in a potted plant of the featured species to give away at that meeting's drawing.
The Plant of the Month is selected from an annual theme.

2026 Plant of the Month Theme

Just Say Yes to these Native Alternatives for Common Invasives

Since the chapter is developing a handout titled "Just Say No to These Invasives", the Plant of the Month theme will be to highlight native alternatives to these invasive plants.

Jan: Scorpionstail (Heliotropium angiospermum) &/or Stary Rosinweed (Silphium asteriscus) alternatives to Caesarweed (Urena lobata) - presented by Paul Rebmann

Feb: Gallberry - Ilex glabra - alternative to Heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica) presented by Lisa DiNicolo

March: TBD - presented by Kate Muldoon

April:

May:

June:

July:

Aug:

Sept:

Oct:

Nov:

Dec. - NO Plant of the Month - Holiday Native Plant Auction

2026 Plant of the Month suggestions:

Christmas berry Lycium carolinianum; Georgia calamint Calamintha georgiana (alt for Asparagus fern Asparagus aethiopicus FISC 1)

White plumbago Plumbago zeylanica; Creeping sage or Southern river sage Salvia misella (alt for Arrowhead vine Syngonium podophyllum FISC 1 Escaped houseplant)

Coral honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens; Crossvine Bignonia capreolata (alt for Cat's claw vine Dolichandra unguis-cati FISC 1)

Shiny-leaf wild coffee Psychotria nervosa; Rouge plant Rivina humilis (alt for Coral ardesia Ardesia crenata FISC 1)

Seagrape - Coccoloba uvifera; Mangrove spider lily Hymenocallis latifola (alt for Wild taro Colocasia esculenta FISC 1)

Dwarf fakahatchee Tripsacum floridanum; Muhlygrass Muhlenbergia capillaris (alt for Fountain grass Cenchrus setaceu or Pennisetum setaceum FISC 2)

Firebush Hamelia patens; Rusty Lyonia Lyonia ferruginea (alt for Heavenly bamboo, Sacred bamboo Nandina domestica FISC 1)

Gold lantana Lantana depressa; Button sage Lantana involucrata (alt for Lantana Shrubverbena Lantana strigocamara FISC 1)

Peperomia Peperomia obtusifolia ; Adam’s needle Yucca filamentosa (alt for Kalanchoe, Mother of a Million, Cathedral bells Kalanchoe pinnata / Kalanchoe x houghtonii FISC 2)

Porterweed Stachytarpheta jamaicensis; Spiderwort Tradescantia ohiensis (alt fro Mexican petunia Ruellia simplex FISC 1)

Sweet acacia Vachellia farnesiana; Red mulberry Morus rubra (alt for Mimosa tree, Silktree Albizia julibrissin FISC 1)

Lizard tail Saururus cernuus; Blue flag iris Iris virginica (alt for Papyrus, dwarf Cyperus prolifer or Cyperus haspan FISC 2)

Twin flower (Dry) Dyschoriste obogifolia (wet) Dyschoriste humistrata; Sunshine mimosa Mimosa strigillosa (alt for Oyster plant, Moses-in-the-Cradle Tradescantia spathacea FISC 1)

Marlberry Ardisia escallonioides; Simpson stopper myrcianthes fragrans (alt for Schefflera,Umbrella tree Heptapleurum actinophyllum FISC 1)

Salt bush Baccharis halimifolia; Walter's viburnum Viburnum obovatum (alt for Silverthorn, Thorny olive Elaegnus pungens FISC 2)

Rattlesnake master Eryngium yuccifolium; Goldenrod Solidago chapmanii (alt for Snake plant, Mother-in-law-tongue Dracaena trifasciata FISC 2)

Coontie Zamia integrifolia; Cinnamon fern Osmundastrum cinnamomeum (alt for Sword ferns Nephrolepis browni and Nephrolepis cordifolia FISC 1)

Swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata and A. perennis; Butterflyweed Asclepias tuberosa (alt for Tropical milkweed Asceplias curssavica FISC 2)

Dune sunflower Helianthus debilis; Florida greeneyes Berlandiera subacaulis (alt for Wedelia, creeping oxeye Sphagneticola trilobata FISC 2)

Contact Paul Rebmann to volunteer to present a plant of the month - NaturePaul @ wildflphoto.com (remove spaces)

2025 Native Shrubs, Trees, Vines, Cacti & Grasses are also Perfect for Pollinators

Jan. - American Beautyberry - Callicarpa americana - presented by Jane Andrews

Feb. - Flatwoods Plum - Prunus umbellata - presented by Kate Muldoon

Mar. - (postponed due to lack of time)

Apr. - Purple Passionflower - Passiflora incarnata - presented by Peter SIgmann

May - TREEmedous Tour of Significant trees of Volusia County - presented by Suze Peace

June - Corkystem Passionflower - Passiflora suberosa - presented by Sharon Rich

July - Prickly-Pear cactus - Opuntia sp. - presented by Leslie Nixon

Aug. - Spanish Bayonet - Yucca aloifolia - presented by Paul Rebmann

Sept. - Virginia-willow, Sweetspire - Itea virginica - preseted by Inia Burginger

Oct. - No Plant of the Month - Native Plant give-away to all meeting attendees instead.

Nov. - Firebush - Hamelia patens - presented by Peter SIgmann

Dec. - NO Plant of the Month - Holiday Native Plant Auction

2024 Native Wildflowers are Perfect for Pollinators

Jan. - Wild pennyroyal - Piloblephis rigida presented by Suzie Shaeffer

Feb. - Beach sunflower - Helianthus debilis - presented by Karen Walter

Mar. - Wild Poinsettia - Euphorbia cyathophora - presented by Jane Andrews

Apr. - Anise-scented goldenrod Solidago odora ssp. odora presented by Kate Muldoon

May - Blue Toadflax - Nuttallanthus canadensis (Linaria canadensis) - presented by Susan McNamee

June - Snow Squarestem - Melanthera nivea - presented by Sande Habali

July - Who's Eating Who - a variety of pollinator and host plants - presented by Inia Burginger

Aug. - Dotted Horsemint, Spotted Beebalm - Monarda punctata - presented by Dee Hackett

Sept. - Frostweed - Verbesina virginica - presented by Peter Sigmann

Oct. - Coralbean - Erythrina herbacea - presented by Gina Holt

Nov. - Spanish Needles - Bidens alba - presented by Judi Van Horn

Dec. - NO Plant of the Month - Holiday Native Plant Auction

2023 Native Plants Front and Center

Showcasing the spectacular native plants that work great in your front yard.

Jan. - None

Feb. - Milkweed - Asclepias sp. - Marc Godts

March - Yellow necklacepod - Sophora tomentosa var. truncata - Georgann Meadows

April - Coontie - Zamia integrifolia - Peter Sigmann

May - Fakahatchee Grass - Tripsacum dactyloides - Sandi Habali

June - Chickasaw plum - Prunus angustifolia - Karen Walter

July - Muhly Grass - Muhlenbergia capillaris - Kate Muldoon

Aug. - Simpson’s Stopper/twinberry - Myrcianthes fragrans - Dee Hacket

Sept. - Saw palmetto - Serenoa repens - Danny Young

Oct. - Cabbage Palm - Sabal palmetto - Paul Rebmann

Nov. - Adam's Needle - Yucca filamentosa - Celena Cline

Dec. - NO Plant of the Month - Holiday Native Plant Auction

Contact Paul Rebmann to volunteer to present a plant of the month - NaturePaul @ wildflphoto.com

2022 Creepers & Kneelers

Creepers & Kneelers was a focus on vines and ground covers and those little annuals in the grasses we like to kneel down to see closer, with an opportunity to promote more eco-friendly lawn and landscape choices to help replacement of invasives and minimizing fertilizers and insecticides.

Jan. - Mimosa strigillosa - Powderpuff - Karen Walter

Feb. - Salvia misella - Southern river sage, creeping sage - Suzie Shaeffer

March - Stachytarpheta jamaicensis - Trailing Porterweed - Sande Habali

April - Dyschoriste oblongifolia - Twinflower, lakeside or oblongleaf - Peter Sigmann

May - Ipomoea pes-caprae var. brasiliensis - Railroad Vine - Paul Rebmann

June - None (meeting off-site)

July - None (no meeting)

Aug. - Passiflora suberosa - Corkystem - Kate Muldoon

Sept. - Helianthus debilis - Dune daisy, east coast - Leslie Nixon

Oct. - Kallstroemia maxima - Big caltrop - Danny Young

Nov. - Parthenocissus quinquefolia - Virginia creeper - Peter Sigmann

Dec. - NO Plant of the Month - Holiday Native Plant Auction