Turtleweed
Batis maritima
- Native to:
- Aruba, Bahamas, Belize, Brazil, Cayman Is., Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, French Guiana, Galápagos, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Leeward Is., Mexico, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Peru, Puerto Rico, Southwest Caribbean, Suriname, Trinidad-Tobago, Turks-Caicos Is., United States, Virgin Islands, Windward Is.
iNaturalist: © mjplagens (iNaturalist #5116997)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Bataceae
- Genus:
- Batis
- Species:
- Batis maritima
- USDA Symbol:
- BAMA5
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Subshrub
- Height:
- 100 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul,aug,sep
- Bloom Colors:
- white, greenish
- Ground Cover:
- Yes
- Evergreen Shrub:
- Yes
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Brephidium isophthalma
Reported Fauna Sightings
Butterflies:Great Southern White (Ascia monuste)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals, coastal wildlife
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- saline, sandy, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.5 (neutral to slightly alkaline)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- thrives in coastal and salt marsh environments
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily in warm conditions with high salinity. May benefit from brief freshwater rinse before sowing.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI