West Indian cherry
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Prunus myrtifolia
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Rosaceae
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Landscape Uses:
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Accent or specimen tree in residential and commercial landscapes. Buffer plantings. |
Ecological Restoration Notes: |
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Availability: |
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Grown by one or two native plant nurseries in South Florida. |
Description: |
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Medium or rarely a large tree with an erect trunk and a slender crown from thin, upright branches. Bark thin, smooth or slightly fissures. Leaves glossy green, with an odor of almonds when crushed, about 2-4 inches long. |
Height: |
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Typically 25-35 feet in height; to 53 feet in South Florida. Taller than broad. |
Growth Rate: |
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Fast. |
Range: |
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Miami-Dade County; West Indies and South America. In Miami-Dade County, known only from the Miami Rock Ridge from Long Pine Key in Everglades National Park northeast to the Miami River; also collected once on Elliott Key in what is now Biscayne National Park, where apparently extirpated. For a digitized image of Elbert Little's Florida range map, visit the Exploring Florida website. |
Habitats: |
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Rockland hammocks. |
Soils: |
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Moist, well-drained limestone soils, with humusy top layer. |
Nutritional Requirements: |
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Moderate; can grow in nutrient poor soils, but needs some organic content to thrive. |
Salt Water Tolerance: |
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Low; does not tolerate 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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Moderate; generally requires moist soils, but tolerant of short periods of drought once established. |
Light Requirements: |
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Light shade to full sun. |
Flower Color: |
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White. |
Flower Characteristics: |
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Semi-showy. |
Flowering Season: |
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Fall-winter. |
Fruit: |
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Brownish-orange drupe. |
Wildlife and Ecology: |
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Birds and other animals eat the fruits. Attracts pollinators. |
Horticultural Notes: |
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Can be grown from de-pulped seed. |
Comments: |
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It is listed as threatened by the state of Florida. |
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George D. Gann In habitat, Everglades National Park, Florida
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