The rare atala butterfly is returning to Florida. Learn how to support this species by planting native coontie.

Garden plantings of native coontie helped fuel a quiet rebound, with sightings now spreading north and peaking in Florida’s ...

In 2017, FLORIDA TODAY ran an article about the Atala butterfly that was previously thought to be extinct but had been discovered again. Since that time, the butterflies have made a resurgence and ...

Coontie is one of my favorite plants. It is an evergreen cycad, growing to about 3 feet tall and is native to the Florida peninsula. Its natural habitat is dominated by pines growing on well drained ...

The coontie plant is a low-growing, durable shrub native to Florida that is toxic if ingested. Native Americans and later European settlers harvested the plant's roots to make flour, nearly driving it ...

Coontie, or Zamia floridana, is an outstanding ornamental shrub that grows slow and low. December’s plant of the month makes a great focal point in garden beds. This native cycad features long-stemmed ...

The atala butterfly, once thought to be extinct, is making a comeback in Florida. Its resurgence is linked to the popularity of its primary host plant, the native coontie. All parts of the coontie ...