| Quailberry, Christmasberry
|
| Crossopetalum ilicifolium
|
| Celastraceae
|
Landscape Uses:
|
|
Wildflower and rock gardens. |
Ecological Restoration Notes: |
|
It can be used as one of many understory herbs in pine rocklands. |
| Availability: |
|
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: |
| |
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: |
| |
Pine rocklands and rockland hammock edges. |
| Soils: |
| |
Moist, well-drained limestone soils, with or without humusy top layer. |
| Nutritional Requirements: |
| |
Low; it grows in nutrient poor soils. |
| Salt Water Tolerance: |
| |
Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water. |
| Salt Wind Tolerance: |
| |
Low; salt wind may burn the leaves. |
| Drought Tolerance: |
| |
High; does not require any supplemental water once established. |
| Light Requirements: |
| |
Full sun to light shade. |
| Flower Color: |
| |
Red. |
| Flower Characteristics: |
| |
Inconspicuous. |
| Flowering Season: |
| |
All year. |
| Fruit: |
| |
Showy bright red drupe. |
| Wildlife and Ecology: |
| |
Provides food for wildlife. Quail eat the fruits. |
| Horticultural Notes: |
| |
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: |
| |
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. |
|
|
|
|