Common Plant Communities in Northeast Florida
 

Cypress domes and strands - found throughout.

Hydric Hammock – found along the St. Johns River, especially where limestone is near the surface. Good examples with public access can be found on the nature walk at the University of North Florida campus.

Hydric pine flatwoods -Throughout, especially near the coast, much of this type of community has been obliterated by silvicultural activities.

Savanna, wet prairie – Locally common in NE Florida look for hooded pitcher plants (Sarracenia minor), wiregrass (Aristida stricta) and toothache grass (Ctenium aromaticum). Probable that most of this community has been converted into pine plantations, and/or fire suppressed and subsequently smothered by thickets of titi and wax myrtle; or hydrologically altered by ditching and draining.

Bayhead - Throughout Good examples with public access can be found on the nature walk at the University of North Florida campus and the foot trail within the water management district property near Bayard Point, Clay County.

Seepage slope/bog – Throughout, look for pond pine (Pinus serotina).

Floodplain forest – Throughout. Good examples with public access can be found on the foot trail within the water management district property near Bayard Point, Clay County and water management lands along the St. Marys River, Nassau County, Florida. See the our webpage for an illustrated guide to Floodplain trees in north Florida.

Floodplain marsh – found primarily along the St. Johns River. Good examples with public access can be found on the foot trail within the water management district property near Bayard Point, Clay County and Suwannee River State Park, Madison County, Florida.

Depression marsh – Throughout, usually associated with areas of low relief such as pine flatwoods.

Lakeshore marsh/swamp – Throughout, floristically related to floodplain communities.

Spring-run – includes floodplains/river marsh in part – found wherever there are springs, especially along the Suwannee River.

Salt marsh – only in coastal areas, includes hypersaline flats which occur within the marsh. Public access to this type of plant community can be found at Little Talbot Island State Park. See the our webpage for an illustrated guide to salt marsh plants in north Florida.

Uplands

Sandhill – found in well drained sands associated with ancient seashores. Now found well inland from the coast. Look for turkey oak (Quercus leavis) and longleaf pine (Pinus palustris). Much of the sandhill near the Jacksonville area has been developed. Public access to extensive areas of sandhill is found in Ocala National Forest (Marion County), the St. Johns Water Management district has some public lands near Bayard Point, sandhill can be seen along the hiking trails in this area.

Coastal Scrub– found on well drained soils near the coast, usually associated with beach dunes and coastal hammocks. Public access to this type of plant community can be found at Little Talbot Island State Park.

Xeric Hammock, Coastal Hammock – found on well drained soils near the coast may be associated with coastal scrub and beach dune. Public access to this type of plant community can be found at Little Talbot Island State Park.

Beach dune found adjacent to Atlantic Ocean very changeable due to storms that rearrange the dune sands. Can be associated with coastal scrub and coastal hammocks. Public access to this type of plant community can be found at Little Talbot Island State Park.

River bluff forest found primarily along the St. Johns River and the St. Marys River. Good examples are found along highway 13 (San Jose Boulevard) in St. Johns County.

Mixed mesophytic forest, tend to be dominated by Magnolia grandiflora and various oak species, associated with river bluff forests. Good examples with public access can be found on the nature walk at the University of North Florida campus.

Pine flatwoods, there are extensive pine flatwoods throughout the area. Good examples with public access can be found on the foot trail within the water management district property near Bayard Point, Clay County.