Spruce Creek Preserve Sleepy Hollow
Sound
On/Off
[ Date ]
02 19 2026
A low-lying estuarine preserve where tidal creeks move through mangrove fringe and coastal scrub at the edge of surrounding residential development.
[ Geographic Features ]
Estuary, Tidal Creek, Mangrove Fringe, Coastal Scrub, Coastal Plain
[ Patterns of Land Use ]
Conservation Land, Public Park, Recreational Trail, Watershed Influence, Low-Density Residential
[ Data Set ]
4:23 PM EST
29.080222, -80.954667
81°F 27.22°C 52% RH, Cloudy
Wind: 10 mph, Gusts: 17 mph, Direction: 225° SW
Spruce Creek Preserve lies low along the tidal edge, where sandy trails pass through scrub and open toward the creek. Mangroves crowd the shoreline. At low tide, a tricolored heron moves through the shallows with deliberate steps and a bobbing head. A white ibis probes among oyster beds exposed above the water.
Aircraft pass overhead from the nearby airport, their sound carrying briefly before thinning over the estuary. Dog walkers move along the trails between the creek and the residential edges beyond the preserve.
[ Plants ]
Sea Oxeye
Common Names: Sea Oxeye, Sea Daisy
Botanical Name: Borrichia frutescens
Sea oxeye is a salt-tolerant coastal plant commonly found along marsh edges and estuarine shorelines. It produces bright yellow, daisy-like flowers and helps stabilize sandy or muddy soils in tidal environments.
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Borrichia
Species: Borrichia frutescens – Sea Oxeye
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Black Mangrove
Common Names: Black Mangrove
Botanical Name: Avicennia germinans
Black mangrove is a salt-tolerant coastal tree found in tidal estuaries and lagoon shorelines. It is recognizable by its exposed pneumatophores, or breathing roots, which rise vertically from the soil to exchange oxygen in waterlogged environments.
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Lamiales
Family: Acanthaceae
Genus: Avicennia
Species: Avicennia germinans – Black Mangrove
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Eastern Red Cedar
Common Names: Eastern Red Cedar
Botanical Name: Juniperus virginiana
Eastern red cedar is a hardy evergreen tree found in coastal scrub and disturbed habitats. It produces small, bluish cones that provide food for birds and other wildlife.
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Pinales
Family: Cupressaceae
Genus: Juniperus
Species: Juniperus virginiana – Eastern Red Cedar
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Shoreline Paspalum
Common Names: Shoreline Paspalum
Botanical Name: Paspalum vaginatum
Shoreline paspalum is a salt-tolerant grass that grows along tidal flats and coastal margins. It forms dense mats that help stabilize shoreline soils.
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Genus: Paspalum
Species: Paspalum vaginatum – Shoreline Paspalum
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Yaupon Holly
Common Names: Yaupon, Yaupon Holly, Cassina
Botanical Name: Ilex vomitoria
A native evergreen shrub or small tree common in coastal hammocks, maritime forests, scrub, and other sandy habitats throughout Florida. It has small glossy leaves and produces red berries that provide food for birds and other wildlife. Its leaves contain caffeine and were historically used by Indigenous peoples to prepare a ceremonial beverage.
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Aquifoliales
Family: Aquifoliaceae
Genus: Ilex
Species: Ilex vomitoria – Yaupon Holly
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Cabbage Palm
Common Names: Cabbage Palm, Sabal Palm
Botanical Name: Sabal palmetto
Cabbage palm is a native palm common in coastal flatwoods and wetlands. It provides shelter and nesting sites for birds and insects.
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Arecales
Family: Arecaceae
Genus: Sabal
Species: Sabal palmetto – Cabbage Palm
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Japanese Holly
Common Names: Japanese Holly
Botanical Name: Ilex crenata
Japanese holly is an introduced evergreen shrub often used in landscaping. It has small, glossy leaves and can spread into surrounding habitats.
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Aquifoliales
Family: Aquifoliaceae
Genus: Ilex
Species: Ilex crenata – Japanese Holly