F LORA & FAUNA
HAIRY BEARDTONGUE
Penstemon hirsutus This native perennial with a funny name is happiest in full shade but will tolerate a little sun . It ’ s also not fussy about water , making it a good addition to a rain garden . To the delight of hummingbirds and butterflies , spikes of pinkish tubular flowers rise from a clump of attractive foliage . Once established it will naturalize , coming back each year and spreading by seed in its immediate area .
CAROLINA GREEN ANOLE
Anolis carolinensis Harmless to humans and fun to watch , these bright green arboreal lizards frequently visit our decks . Often mistakenly called chameleons , they can change to a more subdued brown as the situation calls for it . Males show off a brilliant pink dewlap to attract females or protect their territory . Anoles are carnivores . Over a lifespan of up to eight years these native lizards consume large quantities of insects , mosquitoes , spiders , and ticks .
CHRISTMAS FERN
Polystichum acrostichoides One of several perennial ferns native to coastal SC , Christmas fern is the only one that is evergreen . It gets its name because it stays dark glossy green all through the holiday season . Once established in a shady area with even moisture , it forms robust and long-lived clumps and is often used as ground cover or mass planting under trees or shrubs , providing shelter for a variety of small animals and nesting material for songbirds .
66 • KIAWAH CONSERVANCY