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Barleria repens Nees
Coral creeper, Small bush violet

Barleria repens
Copyright by: Dr. James Wetterer via iNaturalist

Family: Acanthaceae

Group: Dicot

Substrate: Terrestrial

Habit: Herb

Perennation: Perennial

Native Range: Native to the Old World (southern Africa); widely cultivated and naturalized.

Map of Florida Locations

SOUTH FLORIDA Occurrence: Present

SOUTH FLORIDA Native Status: Not Native, Naturalized

South Florida History and Distribution: Cultivated in South Florida and first vouchered as naturalized in 2015 in the Monroe County Keys, then Broward (2018), Miami-Dade (2019), and Palm Beach (2022) counties. It readily roots from the nodes and is difficult to eradicate once established.It is invasive in Hawaii, Australia and elsewhere. IRC considers this an emerging invasive in South Florida.

SOUTH FLORIDA Cultivated Status: Cultivated

Other data on Barleria repens available from :


Barleria repens has been found in the following 4 counties :
Occurrence Native Status
Broward County Not Native, Naturalized
Miami-Dade County Not Native, Naturalized
Monroe County (Keys) Not Native, Naturalized
Palm Beach County Not Native, Naturalized


All Images:

Barleria repens
Copyright by: Dr. James Wetterer via iNaturalist
Barleria repens
Copyright by: George Gann. In cultivation, Broward County, Florida, USA.
Barleria repens
Copyright by: Dr. James Wetterer via iNaturalist
Barleria repens