L.A. LOOKS Central Native Plants of Florida By Lynn Davis The Native Florida ornamental shrub, wild coffee (Rubiaceae), isn’t the coffee you’d drink at WHAT IS THE "LITTORAL SHELF" AND WHAT MAKES IT SIGNIFICANT? The portion of the perimeter of a pond that slopes down is called the littoral area. It's also known as the shallow area close to Starbucks. It tastes musty. Some people have used the abundant seeds as a substitute for decaffeinated coffee. Beware! The plant is toxic to humans and pets. Approach brewing the seeds with caution. The shrub is mainly used as a specimen plant in borders, mass plantings or the main focus in your landscaping. The Wild Coffee shrub has shiny dark green leaves. It blooms a white showy cluster of flowers in Spring and Summer. The red fruits appear in late summer or early fall. Birds and other pollinators frequent this shrub. The shrub’s height is anywhere from 6-10ft. It spreads to 4 or 6 ft. Why plant wild coffee in your yard? This shrub is drought tolerant and prefers shade or partial shade. It strangely does not do well in full sun. You’ll love watching for birds, bees and other wildlife in your yard. Just don’t give up your favorite brew! Wild coffee can be found at any Native Plant Nursery. the shore. The littoral shelf looks like a small wetland when it is healthy. A lot of natural aquatic plants, like Bulrush, Pickerel Weed, and Duck Potato, do well in these places. The littoral shelf has many benefits, such as better water quality because it supports beneficial species that consume the nutrients that help algae and invasive aquatic weeds grow. The shelf also filters the water before it leaves the pond through a flow structure and helps to keep the shoreline in place, which reduces erosion. Behind Limerick Drive and behind Litchfield Loop, you can find littoral shelfs in Lake Ashton. The picture shows that Sandhill Cranes love to build their nests in the littoral shelf behind Limerick Drive. Email Matt Fisher at mfisher@lakeashtoncdd.com if you have any questions or concerns. SHORELINE RESTORATION PROJ ECT COMPLETE The shoreline restoration project on Lake Ashton, behind the Clubhouse, is complete. Here are pictures from start to finish of the project. LA (LW) CDD Supervisors approved this project in September 2023 to battle severe erosion in the area. Thank you for your patience with closures during construction. 12
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