General Landscape Uses:
Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations. Also an accent shrub in coastal areas.
Availability:
Grown by enthusiasts. Available in Key West at
Key West Botanical Garden.
Description: Medium shrub with an erect stem. Branches and leaves sometimes spiny. Leaves slightly hairy beneath.
Dimensions: About 4-6 feet in height. About as broad as tall.
Growth Rate: Moderate.
Range:
Monroe County Keys north along the east coast to Martin County; West Indies.
Map of select IRC data from peninsular Florida.
Map of Postal Code Areas of IRC data from peninsular Florida.
Habitats: Coastal hammocks.
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: High; can tolerate moderate amounts of salt wind without significant injury.
Drought Tolerance: Moderate; generally requires moist soils, but tolerant of short periods of drought once established.
Light Requirements: Light shade.
Flower Color: Purple petals with yellow anthers.
Flower Characteristics: Semi-showy, about 1/2" wide.
Flowering Season: All year.
Fruit: Bright red berry, produced in rows.
Horticultural Notes: Can be grown from seed.
