Vente Conmigo: Florida’s Rare Native Annual Worth Knowing
Meet vente conmigo (Croton glandulosus var. floridanus), a charming little native annual that might just be Florida’s best-kept botanical secret. This humble herb belongs to the diverse Croton family and represents a unique piece of Florida’s natural heritage that deserves more attention from native plant enthusiasts.
What Makes Vente Conmigo Special?
Vente conmigo is an annual forb—basically a soft-stemmed flowering plant without woody tissue that completes its entire life cycle in one growing season. Don’t let its modest appearance fool you; this little native packs some serious conservation significance.
You might also encounter this plant listed under its synonyms Croton fergusonii or Croton floridanus in older botanical references, but Croton glandulosus var. floridanus is the currently accepted scientific name.
Where Does It Call Home?
This variety is exclusively native to Florida, making it a true Florida endemic. While many plants in the Croton family have wide distributions, vente conmigo has chosen to make the Sunshine State its one and only home.
The Rarity Factor: Handle With Care
Here’s where things get interesting—and important. Vente conmigo carries a Global Conservation Status of S5T3, indicating it’s considered rare or uncommon. This means if you’re lucky enough to encounter this plant or want to add it to your native garden, you’ll want to ensure any seeds or plants come from responsible, ethical sources.
Never collect from wild populations, and always purchase from reputable native plant nurseries that propagate their stock rather than wild-harvesting.
Should You Grow Vente Conmigo?
If you’re a Florida gardener passionate about supporting native biodiversity and don’t mind a bit of mystery in your garden, vente conmigo could be an intriguing addition. Here’s what we know about growing this elusive annual:
- It’s an annual, so you’ll need to replant each year or allow it to self-seed
- As a native Florida plant, it’s adapted to the state’s climate and soil conditions
- Being a forb, it likely prefers sunny to partially sunny locations
- Its rarity status suggests it may have specific habitat requirements
The Growing Challenge
Here’s where we hit a bit of a knowledge gap—detailed growing information for this specific variety is scarce in horticultural literature. This isn’t uncommon for rare native annuals that haven’t made their way into mainstream cultivation.
If you’re determined to grow vente conmigo, your best bet is to:
- Contact native plant societies in Florida for local growing experience
- Start with a small trial planting to learn its preferences
- Observe how it performs in different microclimates in your garden
- Keep detailed notes for future reference
The Bottom Line
Vente conmigo represents the kind of botanical treasure that makes native gardening so rewarding—and occasionally frustrating. While we may not have all the growing details figured out, supporting rare native plants like this one helps preserve Florida’s unique botanical heritage.
If you decide to take on the challenge of growing this rare annual, consider yourself a conservation gardener contributing to the preservation of Florida’s natural diversity. Just remember to source responsibly and perhaps document your growing experiences to help other native plant enthusiasts who might follow in your footsteps.
Sometimes the most rewarding plants in our gardens are the ones that make us work a little harder to understand and appreciate them.
