General Landscape Uses:
Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations.
Ecological Restoration Notes: A common element of scrub nearly throughout South Florida.
Availability:
Grown by enthusiasts.
Description: Medium shrub with erect branches forming a large densely-branched mound. Leaves needle-like, 1/2 inch long, dark green and aromatic, with an aroma of a conifer.
Dimensions: Typically 4-8 feet in height. As broad as tall or sometimes broader.
Growth Rate: Slow.
Range:
Southeastern United States south to Miami-Dade and Collier counties. Extirpated in Miami-Dade County.
Map of select IRC data from peninsular Florida.
Map of ZIP codes with habitat recommendations from the Monroe County Keys north to Martin and Charlotte counties.
Habitats: Scrub.
Soils: Dry, well-drained sandy soils, without humus.
Nutritional Requirements: Low; it grows in nutrient poor soils.
Salt Water Tolerance: Low; does not tolerate 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.
Flower Color: Brownish-red to yellowish.
Flower Characteristics: Inconspicuous.
Flowering Season: Spring-summer.
Fruit: Small round greenish-yellow or red berry, containing a single seed.
Wildlife and Ecology: Provides some food and cover for wildlife.
References: Schaefer & Tanner 1997
