The Old Chason Plantation encompasses several distinct habitat zones that are among the most interesting and important in Florida.

The Bay side is the estuary zone marked by a preponderance of needle rush, commonly called “swamp grass”. This vitally important plant is responsible for the productivity of the estuary where salt water mixes with fresh and is the cradle for most of the sea life in the open Gulf of Mexico.

The needle rush traps the sediment washed down by the freshwater distributaries of the Apalachicola River and prevent these vital nutrients from being washed away in the tides. In this rich sediment the eggs of untold billions of shrimp, crab and fin fish hatch and grow protected for the early stages of their life.

Both the needle rush and saw grass, found just inland, can survive in the salty water and mud because they extrude salt from the leaves and have hollow stems that transport oxygen to the roots.

Just inland of these plants are the trees and herbaceous plants. Unlike almost every other area in north Florida, the Old Plantation was never logged or used for tree farming which destroys the native eco-system. The trees are magnificent and among the oldest found in this area. Pine trees that were saplings in the 19th century, live oaks and water oaks of a size seldom seen in the wild, cabbage palms so tall that that they might be mistaken for an exotic species. Resident giants include magnolia, tupelo, water hickory, cedar, red maple, cypress and sweet bay.

This habitat contains many species of golden rod that are glorious in the fall. The shoreline grows swamp roses that brighten the spring. Marsh pinks bloom through the summer. Slightly inland are purple spikes (liatris), meadow beauties, terrestrial orchids, sunflowers and countless other beauties.