Inkberry, Beachberry, Gullfeed
Scaevola plumieri
Goodeniaceae


Landscape Uses:

Accent shrub in open coastal areas.

Ecological Restoration Notes:

Availability:
Native plant nurseries. Available in in Boynton Beach at Sustainscape (561-245-5305).
Description:
Small shrub with succulent leaves and trailing stems. Leaves thick, dark green.
Height:
About 2-5 feet in height. Usually broader than tall.
Growth Rate:
Slow.
Range:
Monroe County Keys north to Brevard, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties; West Indies, Mexico, South America, Galapagos and Old World tropics. Rare in the Monroe County Keys; now migrating to the north along the coasts.
Habitats:
Beach dunes, coastal strand and coastal grasslands.
Soils:
Moist, well-drained sandy or limestone soils, without humus.
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:
Frontline; grows in direct salt wind but away from constant salt spray.
Drought Tolerance:
High; does not require any supplemental water once established.
Light Requirements:
Full sun.
Flower Color:
White to pinkish white.
Flower Characteristics:
Semi-showy. One-sided, appearing like a flower cut in half.
Flowering Season:
All year; peak in summer.
Fruit:
Black ovoid drupe. All year.
Wildlife and Ecology:
Provides significant food and moderate amounts of cover for wildlife.
Horticultural Notes:
Can be grown from seed and division (rooted stems).
Comments:
It is listed as threatened by the state of Florida.


Chuck McCartney
Chuck McCartney
Roger L. Hammer
George D. Gann
Shirley Denton
Cara Abbott, 2022.