Natives For Your Neighborhood
Conservation of rare plants, animals, and ecosystems

General Landscape Uses: Accent shrub. Informal hedges. Buffer plantings.

Availability: Commonly available at native plant nurseries in central Florida. Available at native plant nurseries in South Florida.

Description: Medium shrub dull green leaves.

Dimensions: Typically 3-4 feet in height. Usually as broad as tall.

Growth Rate: Moderate.

Range: Miami-Dade County and the Monroe County mainland north to Volusia, Lake, Sumpter and Citrus counties; West Indies, Mexico and Central America.

 Map of select IRC data from peninsular Florida.

 Map of Postal Code Areas of IRC data from peninsular Florida.

Habitats: Moist forests and swamps.

Soils: Moist, well-drained sandy or limestone soils, with humusy top layer.

Nutritional Requirements: Moderate; can grow in nutrient poor soils, but needs some organic content to thrive.

Salt Water Tolerance: Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water.

Salt Wind Tolerance: Moderate; grows near salt water, but is protected from direct salt spray by other vegetation.

Drought Tolerance: Moderate to low; requires moist to wet soils, but tolerant of short periods of drought once established.

Light Requirements: Light shade.

Flower Color: Green.

Flower Characteristics: Inconspicuous.

Flowering Season: Spring-summer.

Fruit: Red, orange, or yellow drupe.

Wildlife and Ecology: Provides food and cover for wildlife. Birds and other animals eat the fruits.

Horticultural Notes: Can be grown from de-pulped seed. Place seeds on top of soil and sprinkle soil over the seeds to just cover. Place container in light shade.