{"assessment":{"band":"Not scored","fit_score":null,"native_basis":"unresolved","rarity_adjustment":null,"rarity_policy":"Conservation status is displayed separately and never changes ecological scores, including when unranked.","reason":"Native classification is missing or conflicting in the available sources.","reference":"NC native reference cohort, method 0.6.4; not a South Carolina percentile","score":null,"scoring_inputs":{"harm_penalty":0,"invasive":false,"invasive_rank":null,"native":null,"state_rank":""},"status":"native_status_unresolved","version":"shared-0.6.5"},"condition_evidence":{"light":{"evidence_id":"fact:23f18ba84035bc0cd2cf297c8144180069fc49c24fed5bb49c76eaca9095a6af","levels":[4],"policy":"selected-condition-categories-1","range":[4,4],"scope":{"kind":"unspecified"},"semantics":"source_light_categories_preserved_without_hour_conversion","source_field":"light","source_label":"NC Extension Plant Toolbox","source_url":"https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/gossypium-hirsutum/","status":"mapped_selected_fact"},"moisture":{"evidence_id":"fact:ea48b2417ef7e636e8608e629bc836c491a8c02fb1643c97873c9974bbde9ab3","levels":[1,3],"policy":"selected-condition-categories-1","range":[1,3],"scope":{"kind":"unspecified"},"semantics":"source_drainage_or_moisture_categories_preserved","source_field":"moisture_categories","source_label":"NC Extension Plant Toolbox","source_url":"https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/gossypium-hirsutum/","status":"mapped_selected_fact"}},"evidence":{"fit_score":null,"growth_habit":null,"invasive_status":{"status":"unresolved"},"native_status":{"status":"unresolved"},"occurrence":{"county_fips":["45069"],"meaning":"Recorded occurrence; not a county native-range assertion"},"quercus_score":null,"regional":{"county_fips":["45069"],"growth_habit":null,"growth_habit_source":null,"invasive":null,"invasive_evidence":[],"invasive_rank":null,"native":null,"native_evidence":[{"claim":"unknown","matched_name":"Gossypium hirsutum","scope":"TN-KY","source":"tnky_atlas","url":"https://tennessee-kentucky.plantatlas.usf.edu/plant/species/4667"},{"claim":"native","matched_name":"Gossypium hirsutum","scope":"L48","source":"usda","text":"HI:I L48:N PB:N PR:N VI:N","url":"https://plants.usda.gov/"}],"native_status":"unresolved","source_ids":["sernec:27401"],"source_name":"Gossypium hirsutum","source_refs":["SC-checklist-5.html","sernec_county"],"source_url":"https://sernecportal.org/portal/checklists/checklist.php?pagenumber=5&clid=3141&dynclid=0&pid=84&searchsynonyms=1","state_rank":null},"source_refs":["SC-checklist-5.html","sernec_county"],"source_url":"https://sernecportal.org/portal/checklists/checklist.php?pagenumber=5&clid=3141&dynclid=0&pid=84&searchsynonyms=1","state_rank":{"value":null}},"fit_inputs":{"light":[4,4],"moisture":[1,3],"ph":null},"fit_provenance":{"light":"NC Extension Plant Toolbox","moisture":"NC Extension Plant Toolbox"},"fit_record":{"band":"Not scored","condition_evidence":{"light":{"evidence_id":"fact:23f18ba84035bc0cd2cf297c8144180069fc49c24fed5bb49c76eaca9095a6af","levels":[4],"policy":"selected-condition-categories-1","range":[4,4],"scope":{"kind":"unspecified"},"semantics":"source_light_categories_preserved_without_hour_conversion","source_field":"light","source_label":"NC Extension Plant Toolbox","source_url":"https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/gossypium-hirsutum/","status":"mapped_selected_fact"},"moisture":{"evidence_id":"fact:ea48b2417ef7e636e8608e629bc836c491a8c02fb1643c97873c9974bbde9ab3","levels":[1,3],"policy":"selected-condition-categories-1","range":[1,3],"scope":{"kind":"unspecified"},"semantics":"source_drainage_or_moisture_categories_preserved","source_field":"moisture_categories","source_label":"NC Extension Plant Toolbox","source_url":"https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/gossypium-hirsutum/","status":"mapped_selected_fact"}},"county_fips":["45069"],"fit_inputs":{"light":[4,4],"moisture":[1,3],"ph":null},"fit_note":"Shared sunlight, moisture and pH calculation; county geography is an additional layer. Missing source traits remain unknown.","fit_provenance":{"light":"NC Extension Plant Toolbox","moisture":"NC Extension Plant Toolbox"},"garden_suitability":{"default_excluded":false,"flags":[],"review_status":"not_assessed"},"invasive_rank":false,"native_eligible":false,"quercus_score":null,"state":"SC"},"garden_suitability":{"default_excluded":false,"flags":[],"review_status":"not_assessed"},"growing_observations":{"floraquest_carolinas_georgia":{"matched_name":"Gossypium hirsutum","retrieved":"2026-10-04T13:31:16.252589+00:00","scope":{"kind":"region","region_id":"floraquest_nc_sc_ga"},"scope_note":"Original regional ecological and identification evidence; no location-specific gardening adjustments.","source_label":"FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team)","source_name":"Gossypium hirsutum","source_record_id":3874,"source_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_url":"https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.emountainworks.android.southeastfieldguide","trait_evidence":[{"field":"habitat_description","source_column":"HabitatText","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":3874,"source_table":"Organism","value":"Coastal hammocks, rockland hammock edges, coastal rock barrens (in FL peninsula), disturbed areas, a frequently cultivated crop, especially in sandy soils of the Coastal Plain, rarely adventive or a waif where grown."},{"field":"geographic_range_description","source_column":"Description","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":3874,"source_table":"Organism","value":"Native of Central America, South America, the West Indies, and s. Florida (see comments)."},{"field":"phenology_source_text","source_column":"Phenology","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":3874,"source_table":"Organism","value":"Jul-Sep."},{"field":"taxonomic_synonymy","source_column":"Synonymy","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":3874,"source_table":"Organism","value":"[= Ar, C, Fl4, FNA6, G, Il, K4, Mo3, NcTx, NY, Tx, WH3, Fryxell (1969), Fryxell (1992); = Gossypium herbaceum L. — F, misapplied; = n/a — Pa, RAB, Tat; > Gossypium herbaceum L. — S, S13, misapplied; > Gossypium hirsutum L. — S; > Gossypium hirsutum L. var. hirsutum — K1, NE, NS, POWO; > Gossypium hirsutum L. var. marie-galante (G. Watt) J.B. Hutch. — NS; > Gossypium regiosum Roxburgh — S13]"},{"field":"botanical_comments","source_column":"Comments","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":3874,"source_table":"Organism","value":"Plants in the FL Keys have larger and creamy white to pinkish flowers and petals with a maroon blotch near the base, while those from mainland s. FL have smaller flowers and uniformly pale yellowish petals, perhaps reflecting different races (R. Hammer, pers.comm., 2019). Several varieties were invalidly named based on FL material (Fryxell 1976). Probably first domesticated in the Yucatan Peninsula. See Wunderlin et al. (2024) for a discussion on this species' nativity as a wild-growing plant in Florida. \"Gossypium hirsutum is native to coastal south Florida (d'Eeckenbrugge & Lacape 2014). The cotton boll weevil (Anthonomus grandis) is thought to be native primarily to southern Mexico (Jones 2001), and was detected in Texas in 1892 and in wild cotton plants of Florida in 1932. The host plants of the weevil may include Cienfuegosia, Gossypium, Hampea, Hibiscus, and Thespesia (Jones 2001). Although G. hirsutum is now considered a state-threatened species, wild cotton was once called \"a worthless plant\" in south Florida and all wild and cultivated plants of south Florida were historically purposely destroyed from 1932-1971 with the intent of the \"final eradication of all wild cotton in Florida\" in order to reduce the impact of the boll weevil to commercial cotton (Henneberry et al. 1980; USDA 1950, 1955, 1956). It was claimed that from 1933-1950, \"over 17 million such plants\" were destroyed (USDA 1950). Wild cotton was reportedly found in Hudson in Pasco Co. and Grant in Brevard Co. (Noble 1969).\" (Wunderlin et al. 2024)."},{"field":"heliophily_index","source_column":"HIndex","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":3874,"source_table":"Organism","value":7},{"field":"regional_wetland_indicators","source_column":"WetlandStatus1..5","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":3874,"source_table":"Organism","value":[{"source_column":"WetlandStatus1","value":"UPL"},{"source_column":"WetlandStatus2","value":"FACU"},{"source_column":"WetlandStatus3","value":"UPL"},{"source_column":"WetlandStatus4","value":"FACU"},{"source_column":"WetlandStatus5","value":"UPL"}]},{"field":"habitat_moisture_categories","source_column":"Attr2","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":3874,"source_table":"GraphicKey","value":["Dry","Moist"]},{"field":"habitat_light_categories","source_column":"Attr3","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":3874,"source_table":"GraphicKey","value":["Partial shade","Full sun"]},{"field":"graphic_key_source_attributes","source_column":"Attr0..25","source_database_sha256":"684f6b364ff9f3023aa61ed02ae50f6f6d6d4d3bcf76847b78ab769ae0453469","source_record_id":3874,"source_table":"GraphicKey","value":{"Attr0":"gr09","Attr1":"nc_cp,sc_cp,sc_pd,ga_cp,ga_pd,","Attr12":"e","Attr13":"rad","Attr14":"5","Attr15":"re,wh,ye","Attr16":"n","Attr17":"DSS","Attr2":"Dry,Moist","Attr3":"Part,Sun","Attr3a":"n","Attr3a_subregion":"native_nc_cp:n,native_sc_cp:n,native_sc_pd:n,native_ga_cp:n,native_ga_pd:n,","Attr4":" 6-10","Attr5":"er","Attr6":"pub","Attr7":"alt","Attr8":"l","Attr9":"wi"}}],"values":{"botanical_comments":"Plants in the FL Keys have larger and creamy white to pinkish flowers and petals with a maroon blotch near the base, while those from mainland s. FL have smaller flowers and uniformly pale yellowish petals, perhaps reflecting different races (R. Hammer, pers.comm., 2019). Several varieties were invalidly named based on FL material (Fryxell 1976). Probably first domesticated in the Yucatan Peninsula. See Wunderlin et al. (2024) for a discussion on this species' nativity as a wild-growing plant in Florida. \"Gossypium hirsutum is native to coastal south Florida (d'Eeckenbrugge & Lacape 2014). The cotton boll weevil (Anthonomus grandis) is thought to be native primarily to southern Mexico (Jones 2001), and was detected in Texas in 1892 and in wild cotton plants of Florida in 1932. The host plants of the weevil may include Cienfuegosia, Gossypium, Hampea, Hibiscus, and Thespesia (Jones 2001). Although G. hirsutum is now considered a state-threatened species, wild cotton was once called \"a worthless plant\" in south Florida and all wild and cultivated plants of south Florida were historically purposely destroyed from 1932-1971 with the intent of the \"final eradication of all wild cotton in Florida\" in order to reduce the impact of the boll weevil to commercial cotton (Henneberry et al. 1980; USDA 1950, 1955, 1956). It was claimed that from 1933-1950, \"over 17 million such plants\" were destroyed (USDA 1950). Wild cotton was reportedly found in Hudson in Pasco Co. and Grant in Brevard Co. (Noble 1969).\" (Wunderlin et al. 2024).","geographic_range_description":"Native of Central America, South America, the West Indies, and s. Florida (see comments).","graphic_key_source_attributes":{"Attr0":"gr09","Attr1":"nc_cp,sc_cp,sc_pd,ga_cp,ga_pd,","Attr12":"e","Attr13":"rad","Attr14":"5","Attr15":"re,wh,ye","Attr16":"n","Attr17":"DSS","Attr2":"Dry,Moist","Attr3":"Part,Sun","Attr3a":"n","Attr3a_subregion":"native_nc_cp:n,native_sc_cp:n,native_sc_pd:n,native_ga_cp:n,native_ga_pd:n,","Attr4":" 6-10","Attr5":"er","Attr6":"pub","Attr7":"alt","Attr8":"l","Attr9":"wi"},"habitat_description":"Coastal hammocks, rockland hammock edges, coastal rock barrens (in FL peninsula), disturbed areas, a frequently cultivated crop, especially in sandy soils of the Coastal Plain, rarely adventive or a waif where grown.","habitat_light_categories":["Partial shade","Full sun"],"habitat_moisture_categories":["Dry","Moist"],"heliophily_index":7,"phenology_source_text":"Jul-Sep.","regional_wetland_indicators":[{"source_column":"WetlandStatus1","value":"UPL"},{"source_column":"WetlandStatus2","value":"FACU"},{"source_column":"WetlandStatus3","value":"UPL"},{"source_column":"WetlandStatus4","value":"FACU"},{"source_column":"WetlandStatus5","value":"UPL"}],"taxonomic_synonymy":"[= Ar, C, Fl4, FNA6, G, Il, K4, Mo3, NcTx, NY, Tx, WH3, Fryxell (1969), Fryxell (1992); = Gossypium herbaceum L. — F, misapplied; = n/a — Pa, RAB, Tat; > Gossypium herbaceum L. — S, S13, misapplied; > Gossypium hirsutum L. — S; > Gossypium hirsutum L. var. hirsutum — K1, NE, NS, POWO; > Gossypium hirsutum L. var. marie-galante (G. Watt) J.B. Hutch. — NS; > Gossypium regiosum Roxburgh — S13]"}},"ncsu_sitemap":{"matched_name":"Gossypium hirsutum","retrieved":"2026-10-04T02:36:13.323773+00:00","scope":{"kind":"unspecified"},"scope_note":"Source-reported species characteristics; not a location-specific estimate.","source_label":"NC Extension Plant Toolbox","source_sha256":"e0aee79f43e8a99871829a24e934546751ae512f0c19ed99279b6f21dda7965f","source_url":"https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/gossypium-hirsutum/","trait_evidence":[{"expected_source_name":"Gossypium hirsutum","field":"life_cycle","original_field":"life_cycle","record_id":"trait:4f164164aa55a210216d988c9d82a5f9201621379277ec7ad7e0c66d52587071","retrieved_at":"2026-10-04T02:36:13.323773+00:00","scope":{"kind":"unspecified"},"scope_note":"Species profile; distribution and native-status discovery filters do not establish local growing or bloom timing.","source":"ncsu","source_name":"Gossypium hirsutum","source_sha256":"e0aee79f43e8a99871829a24e934546751ae512f0c19ed99279b6f21dda7965f","source_url":"https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/gossypium-hirsutum/","status":"eligible_fact","taxon_id":"taxon:409e649c-720d-5181-a9f6-6cbd51be866b","value":["Perennial"]},{"expected_source_name":"Gossypium hirsutum","field":"light","original_field":"light","record_id":"trait:93b2d8c1a34b5731def26013f7179e98bc030171791e70585b03819343459f3a","retrieved_at":"2026-10-04T02:36:13.323773+00:00","scope":{"kind":"unspecified"},"scope_note":"Species profile; 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distribution and native-status discovery filters do not establish local growing or bloom timing.","source":"ncsu","source_name":"Gossypium hirsutum","source_sha256":"e0aee79f43e8a99871829a24e934546751ae512f0c19ed99279b6f21dda7965f","source_url":"https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/gossypium-hirsutum/","status":"eligible_fact","taxon_id":"taxon:409e649c-720d-5181-a9f6-6cbd51be866b","value":["Gold/Yellow","White"]},{"expected_source_name":"Gossypium hirsutum","field":"moisture_categories","original_field":"soil_moisture","record_id":"trait:fc2710aea3b40dc3b3399ffaf2dc901f82fb83d26390200bc547806ccfe82937","retrieved_at":"2026-10-04T02:36:13.323773+00:00","scope":{"kind":"unspecified"},"scope_note":"Species profile; distribution and native-status discovery filters do not establish local growing or bloom timing.","source":"ncsu","source_name":"Gossypium hirsutum","source_sha256":"e0aee79f43e8a99871829a24e934546751ae512f0c19ed99279b6f21dda7965f","source_url":"https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/gossypium-hirsutum/","status":"eligible_fact","taxon_id":"taxon:409e649c-720d-5181-a9f6-6cbd51be866b","value":["Moist","Occasionally Dry"]}],"values":{"flower_color":["Gold/Yellow","White"],"life_cycle":["Perennial"],"light":["Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)"],"moisture_categories":["Moist","Occasionally Dry"],"soil_ph_categories":["Neutral (6.0-8.0)"]}},"wildflower_center":{"matched_name":"Gossypium hirsutum","retrieved":"2026-10-05T20:13:38.178673+00:00","scope":{"kind":"unspecified"},"scope_note":"Source-reported species characteristics; not a location-specific estimate.","source_label":"Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center","source_sha256":"4701f34131b4f0f18ca59251b8cf34781acc9fae92715fd3aefc36648cc0974a","source_url":"https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=GOHI","trait_evidence":[{"expected_source_name":"Gossypium hirsutum","field":"height_description","original_field":"height","record_id":"trait:11c3d36313db129839ab6e5baf5536380e25e91abf6373bd1803370583d7413e","retrieved_at":"2026-10-05T20:13:38.178673+00:00","scope":{"kind":"unspecified"},"scope_note":"Species profile; distribution and native-status discovery filters do not establish local growing or bloom timing.","source":"wildflower","source_name":"Gossypium hirsutum","source_sha256":"4701f34131b4f0f18ca59251b8cf34781acc9fae92715fd3aefc36648cc0974a","source_url":"https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=GOHI","status":"eligible_fact","taxon_id":"taxon:409e649c-720d-5181-a9f6-6cbd51be866b","value":{"approximate":true,"kind":"upper_bound","max":6,"unit":"feet"}},{"expected_source_name":"Gossypium hirsutum","field":"flower_color","original_field":"flower_color","record_id":"trait:7b41e7e4702cdaf806eec4fe7a95cd24cd4b03496ab732c247782cc0639642ed","retrieved_at":"2026-10-05T20:13:38.178673+00:00","scope":{"kind":"unspecified"},"scope_note":"Species profile; distribution and native-status discovery filters do not establish local growing or bloom timing.","source":"wildflower","source_name":"Gossypium hirsutum","source_sha256":"4701f34131b4f0f18ca59251b8cf34781acc9fae92715fd3aefc36648cc0974a","source_url":"https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=GOHI","status":"eligible_fact","taxon_id":"taxon:409e649c-720d-5181-a9f6-6cbd51be866b","value":["White","Yellow"]},{"expected_source_name":"Gossypium hirsutum","field":"life_cycle","original_field":"life_cycle","record_id":"trait:c135f398576eb28a9459a30578781aa9915afcc6da8900f416f40d47a1aaa082","retrieved_at":"2026-10-05T20:13:38.178673+00:00","scope":{"kind":"unspecified"},"scope_note":"Species profile; distribution and native-status discovery filters do not establish local growing or bloom timing.","source":"wildflower","source_name":"Gossypium hirsutum","source_sha256":"4701f34131b4f0f18ca59251b8cf34781acc9fae92715fd3aefc36648cc0974a","source_url":"https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=GOHI","status":"eligible_fact","taxon_id":"taxon:409e649c-720d-5181-a9f6-6cbd51be866b","value":["Annual"]}],"values":{"flower_color":["White","Yellow"],"height_description":"Up to about 6 feet","life_cycle":["Annual"]}}},"light_range":["full sun","full sun"],"light_source":"NC Extension Plant Toolbox","native_synthesis":{"claims":[{"claim":"unknown","matched_name":"Gossypium hirsutum","scope":"TN-KY","source":"tnky_atlas","url":"https://tennessee-kentucky.plantatlas.usf.edu/plant/species/4667"},{"claim":"native","matched_name":"Gossypium hirsutum","scope":"L48","source":"usda","text":"HI:I L48:N PB:N PR:N VI:N","url":"https://plants.usda.gov/"}],"county_native_range":"unresolved","explanation":"Source scopes are preserved. State occurrence alone does not establish nativity; combined regional evidence is labeled estimated.","label":"Native status unresolved in South Carolina","rule":"southeast-native-synthesis-1","status":"unresolved"},"source_name":"Gossypium hirsutum","taxon_id":"taxon:409e649c-720d-5181-a9f6-6cbd51be866b","revision":"publish:5809c037-0e9a-430a-8008-5ab6f69800c0","photos":[]}