Rare Plant Surveys

Brevard County is conducting a survey for seven extremely rare plant species. One of these species, the Titusville Mint (Scientific name: Dicerandra thinicola) is known nowhere else in the world except from only a few areas in Titusville and Scottsmore. The purpose of the survey project is to search for more Titusville Mint within its known range to better understand its status. This survey has uncovered a few new locations for this unique plant. It makes a colorful native landscape groundcover and attracts butterflies. It has profuse pink and purple flowers from September to November each year and its leaves have a strong mint odor when touched. The funding for the status survey is provided by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Office.

The discovery of this endangered plant on a property does not restrict the property owner’s use of his/her own property. The endangered plant laws treat such plants as property of the owner. While we encourage you to enjoy and protect this special plant, you are under no obligation by federal or state law to do so. The preservation of this species and other rare plant species may count toward the requirements of the county’s landscaping and preservation requirements. If you do not choose to protect the plant, you may allow plant conservation ecologists to salvage plant material for future research and off-site preservation.                                                     Dicerandra thinicola

The Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services is funding the search for the following plant species in natural areas in Brevard County: Harrisia fragrans, Deeringothamnus rugelii, Deeringothamnus pulchellus, Warea carteri, Nolina brittoniana, and Polygala lewtonii.