General Landscape Uses:
Understory shrub.
Availability:
Rarely grown by native plant nurseries.
Description: Deciduous shrub or small tree up to 15 feet tall with 1-4 inch long leaves and small red berries.
Dimensions: A shrub or small tree to about 20 feet in height.
Range:
Southern United States south to Sarasota, De Soto, Highlands, Osceola, and Indian River counties. Populations also in Lee and Martin counties. For a digitized image of Elbert Little's Florida range map, visit the
Exploring Florida website.
Map of select IRC data from peninsular Florida.
Map of suggested ZIP codes from South Florida north to southern Brevard, Osceola, Polk, and Pasco counties.
Habitats: Dry hammocks, sandhills, dunes.
Soils: Dry to moist, well-drained sandy soils, with or without humusy top layer.
Nutritional Requirements: Low to moderate; it can grow in nutrient poor soils or soils with some organic content.
Salt Water Tolerance: Low; does not tolerate flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance: Moderate; grows near salt water, but is protected from direct salt spray by other vegetation.
Drought Tolerance: High; does not require any supplemental water once established.
Light Requirements: Full sun to light shade.
Flower Color: White.
Flower Characteristics: Semi-showy.
Fruit: Red berries.
Wildlife and Ecology: Provides significant food and cover for wildlife. Attracts pollinators.
References: Hall (
2020), Huegel (
2010)
Comments: We have been adding data for this species for central and northern Florida and welcome any feedback or review. If you would like to contribute information or images, please contact George Gann via the IRC staff page.
