Canaveral National Seashore Apollo Beach Boardwalk 5
Sound
On/Off
[ Date ]
06 18 2026
At Boardwalk 5, a narrow path follows the barrier island between Mosquito Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean. Plant communities are shaped by saline soils, wind, tidal exchange, and inundation.
[ Geographic Features ]
Barrier Island, Lagoon, Shoreline, Wetland, Watershed, Coastal Plain, Mangrove Fringe
[ Patterns of Land Use ]
Waterfront access, Conservation land
[ Data Set ]
5:04 PM EST
28.856722, -80.776417
85°F 29°C 80% RH, Partly Cloudy
Wind 16 mph, Wind Gusts: 22 mph, Wind Direction: 141° (SE)
A narrow path follows the spine of the peninsula, with water on both sides. To the west, the shallow lagoon is broken by mangrove islands. To the east, dunes and scrub stand between the path and the Atlantic. Mangroves grow at the water’s edge, while dune grasses, saw palmetto, and cabbage palms occupy higher ground. The path moves through dense shade, then opens to wide views of the lagoon. Exposed roots reach into the water, and fallen trunks lie along the shore. Lizards bob their heads. Butterflies move over the shrubs. Wind bends the grasses inland and darkens the surface of the lagoon in passing bands. Sand gathers around roots and vegetation along the shore, then shifts again with storms and tides.
[ Plants ]
Black Mangrove
Common Names: Black Mangrove
Botanical Name: Avicennia germinans
Salt-tolerant coastal shrub or small tree found along estuaries, lagoons, and protected shorelines. Black mangroves stabilize sediments, protect shorelines from erosion, and provide critical habitat for fish, birds, and invertebrates.
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Lamiales
Family: Acanthaceae
Genus: Avicennia
Species: A. germinans
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Saltwort
Common Names: Saltwort, Turtleweed, Seaside Saltwort, Pickleweed
Botanical Name: Batis maritima
Succulent perennial shrub common in coastal marshes and mangrove margins. Adapted to highly saline soils, it provides habitat for small wildlife and helps stabilize shoreline sediments.
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Bataceae
Genus: Batis
Species: B. maritima
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Sea Oxeye
Common Names: Sea Oxeye, Bushy Sea Oxeye, Sea Oxeye Daisy, Sea-Marigold
Botanical Name: Borrichia frutescens
Native flowering shrub of salt marshes and coastal shorelines. Its bright yellow flowers attract pollinators while dense root systems help reduce erosion in tidal environments.
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Borrichia
Species: B. frutescens
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Jesuit's Bark
Common Names: Jesuit's Bark, Marsh Elder, High-Tide Bush, Bigleaf Marsh Elder
Botanical Name: Iva frutescens
Woody coastal shrub common along marsh edges and tidal shorelines. It tolerates periodic flooding and provides habitat and food sources for birds and insects.
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Iva
Species: I. frutescens
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Chinese Silver Grass
Common Names: Chinese Silver Grass, Maiden Grass, Eulalia Grass, Susuki Grass
Botanical Name: Miscanthus sinensis
Tall ornamental grass with arching foliage and feathery seed plumes. Although widely planted in landscapes, it is not native to Florida and may escape cultivation in some regions.
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Genus: Miscanthus
Species: M. sinensis