|                    Quailberry, Christmasberry
                      |  
              
                |                    Crossopetalum ilicifolium  
                      |  
              
                |                    Celastraceae 
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                 Landscape Uses:
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                 Wildflower and rock gardens. | 
               
                Ecological Restoration Notes:  | 
               
              
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                 It can be used as one of many understory herbs in pine rocklands. | 
               
              
                | Availability: | 
               
              
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                 Commonly available at native plant nurseries in central and South Florida. Available in Boynton Beach at Sustainscape (561-245-5305). | 
               
              
                | Description: | 
               
              
                |   | 
                 Small, spreading shrubby groundcover with holly-like leaves | 
               
              
                | Height: | 
               
              
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                 Typically 6-12 inches in height.  Spreading and becoming much broader than tall; sometimes hanging in mats from the side of large limestone rocks. | 
               
              
                | Growth Rate: | 
               
              
                |   | 
                 Moderate to slow. | 
               
              
                | Range: | 
               
              
                |   | 
                 Monroe County Keys, Miami-Dade County and Collier County; Cuba, Bahamas and Hispaniola.  In the Monroe County Keys, known from North Key Largo, then disjunct to the pine rocklands of Big Pine Key and No Name Key. | 
               
              
                | Habitats: | 
               
              
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                 Pine rocklands and rockland hammock edges. | 
               
              
                | Soils: | 
               
              
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                 Moist, well-drained limestone soils, with or without humusy top layer. | 
               
              
                | Nutritional Requirements: | 
               
              
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                 Low; it grows in nutrient poor soils. | 
               
              
                | Salt Water Tolerance: | 
               
              
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                 Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water. | 
               
              
                | Salt Wind Tolerance: | 
               
              
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                 Low; salt wind may burn the leaves. | 
               
              
                | Drought Tolerance: | 
               
              
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                 High; does not require any supplemental water once established. | 
               
              
                | Light Requirements: | 
               
              
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                 Full sun to light shade. | 
               
              
                | Flower Color: | 
               
              
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                 Red. | 
               
              
                | Flower Characteristics: | 
               
              
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                 Inconspicuous. | 
               
              
                | Flowering Season: | 
               
              
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                 All year. | 
               
              
                | Fruit: | 
               
              
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                 Showy bright red drupe. | 
               
              
                | Wildlife and Ecology: | 
               
              
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                 Provides food for wildlife.  Quail eat the fruits. | 
               
                     
                | Horticultural Notes: | 
               
              
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                 Can be grown from de-pulped seed.  Plant immediately; seeds do not store well.  Plant in pot with 2" or more of potting soil, just covering seed with soil. | 
               
              
                | Comments: | 
               
              
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                 This is one of our most attractive woody groundcovers for sunny locations in alkaline soils.  It is listed as threatened by the state of Florida. | 
               
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