LIVING SHORELINES FLORIDA PLANT GUIDE

The Indian River Lagoon (IRL) occupys more than 40% of Florida’s east coast, extending over 156 miles from Ponce de Leon Inlet to Jupiter Inlet in West Palm Beach. The Lagoon is uniquely diverse and encompasses three bodies of water, the Mosquito Lagoon, Banana River and the Indian River.

The Indian River Lagoon is not a river, it is an estuary, where fresh water combines with ocean salt water through inlets creating a complex habitat with high biological diversity.

As one of the most biologically diverse estuaries in North America, the IRL is home to more than 4,000 species of plants and animals that depend on the quality of water within the Lagoon for survival.

Indian River Lagoon

The Indian River Lagoon (IRL) occupys more than 40% of Florida’s east coast, extending over 156 miles from Ponce de Leon Inlet to Jupiter Inlet in West Palm Beach. The Lagoon is uniquely diverse and encompasses three bodies of water, the Mosquito Lagoon, Banana River and the Indian River.

The Indian River Lagoon is not a river, it is an estuary, where fresh water combines with ocean salt water through inlets creating a complex habitat with high biological diversity.

As one of the most biologically diverse estuaries in North America, the IRL is home to more than 4,000 species of plants and animals that depend on the quality of water within the Lagoon for survival.

Indian River Lagoon

The IRL is a significant economic driver for five counties—Volusia, Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie and Martin counties. In a 2016 economic valuation study by the East Central Florida and Treasure Coast Regional Planning Councils, the IRL’s total economic output in 2014 was $7.6 billion.

The Lagoon has experienced numerous algal blooms since 2011, which have destroyed more than 60% of its seagrasses and killed off many of the species of plants and aninals that live within the estuary.

Living Shorelines are just one of many ways we can help improve the health of the Lagoon!

The low marsh zone is located closest to the water. It is usually flooded at high tide and exposed during low tide.

Red Mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) Smooth Cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) Red mangroves are easily distinguishable through their unique prop roots system. The prop roots of a red mangrove suspend it over the water, thereby giving it extra support and protection.

Low Marsh Zone

The low marsh zone is located closest to the water. It is usually flooded at high tide and exposed during low tide.

Red Mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) Smooth Cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) Red mangroves are easily distinguishable through their unique prop roots system. The prop roots of a red mangrove suspend it over the water, thereby giving it extra support and protection.

Low Marsh Zone

The mid marsh zone lies between the low marsh and high marsh. The plants here can tolerate flooding but prefer drier conditions. Lower Mid Marsh Zone

Black mangrove (Avicennia germinans)

Black mangroves are characterized by long horizontal roots and root-like projections known as pneumatophores. It grows at elevations slightly higher than the red mangrove and produce numerous upright, unbranched roots above water and around the edges of the trees to provide the extensive root system with air.

The mid marsh zone lies between the low marsh and high marsh. The plants here can tolerate flooding but prefer drier conditions. Lower Mid Marsh Zone

Other lower mid marsh plants include:

•Saltmeadow cordgrass (Spartina patens)

•Saltwort (Batis maritima)

•Glasswort (Sarcocornia ambigua)

•Saltgrass (Distichlis spicata)

•Seashore dropseed (Sporobolus virginicus)

•Sea purslane (Sesuvium portulacastrum or maritimum)

•Seashore paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum)

The mid marsh zone lies between the low marsh and high marsh. The plants here can tolerate flooding but prefer drier conditions. Higher Mid Marsh Zone

White mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa)

White mangroves lack the prop roots that distinguish red mangroves or the root-like stubs called pneumataphores of black mangroves. Occupying higher land than the red and black mangroves, when it is found in oxygen-depleted sediments or flooded for extended periods of time, it may develop peg roots.

The mid marsh zone lies between the low marsh and high marsh. The plants here can tolerate flooding but prefer drier conditions. Higher Mid Marsh Zone

Other higher mid marsh plants include:

•Saltbush or groundsel (Baccharis angustifolia)•Railroad vine (Ipomoea spp.)•Sweet acacia (Vachellia farnesiana)•Green buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus)•Marsh elder (Iva frutescens)•Silver buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus var. sericeus)•East coast dune sunflower (Helianthus debilis)•Blanketflower (Gaillardia pulchella)•Wild lantana (Lantana involucrata)•Sand cordgrass (Spartina bakeri)

•Cabbage palm (Sabal palmetto)•Sea ox-eye daisy (Borrichia frutescens)•Muhle grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris)•Seagrape (Coccoloba uvifera)•Wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera)•Gulf spikerush (Eleocharis cellulosa)•Black needlerush (Juncus roemarianus)•Pondapple (Annona glabra)•Red bay (Persea borbonia)

The high marsh zone is generally flooded only during higher than average high tides. It does not experience waterlogged conditions or severe salt stress. High Marsh Zone

High marsh plants include:

•Fakahatchee grass (Trypsacum dactyloides)•False indigo (Amorpha fruticosa)•Red cedar (Juniperus virginiana var. silicicola)•Firebush (Hamelia patens)•Milkweed (Asclepias spp.)•Myrsine (Myrsine cubana)•Gumbo limbo (Bursera simaruba)•Florida privet (Forestiera segregata)•Seaside goldenrod (Solidago sempervirens)•Porterweed (Stachytarpheta jamaicensis

The high marsh zone is generally flooded only during higher than average high tides. It does not experience waterlogged conditions or severe salt stress. High Marsh Zone

High marsh plants include:

•White indigoberry (Randia aculeata)•Herb of grace (Bacopa monnieri)•Sweetbay (Magnolia virginiana)•Necklacepod (Sophora tomentosa var. truncata)•Snowberry (Chiococca alba)•Inkberry (Ilex glabra)•Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)•Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens)•Beach elder (Iva imbricata)

• Stabilization of the shoreline

• Improvement of water quality via filtration of upland run-off

• Filtering nutrients and other pollutants from the water

• Trapping sand to rebuild eroded shorelines or maintain current shoreline form

• Providing or enhancing important shoreline habitat

• Reducing wave energy impacts at or seaward of the shoreline

• Improved resilience to future sea level rise and other environmental changes

Benefits of Living Shorelines Include:

• Stabilization of the shoreline

• Improvement of water quality via filtration of upland run-off

• Filtering nutrients and other pollutants from the water

• Trapping sand to rebuild eroded shorelines or maintain current shoreline form

• Providing or enhancing important shoreline habitat

• Reducing wave energy impacts at or seaward of the shoreline

• Improved resilience to future sea level rise and other environmental changes

YOU CAN HELP!

The City has a Living Shoreline Plan.

As part of collaboration between the City of Titusville, the University of Central Florida, the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program, and the St. Johns River Water Management District, a living shoreline

plan was developed. This plan shows what kind of living shorelines should be implemented in Titusville and how you can install one on

your property.

The plan can be viewed on the City of Titusville website.