General Landscape Uses:
Specimen.
Availability:
Rarely grown by native plant nurseries.
Description: Small evergreen tree or shrub up to 15 feet tall. Leathery leaves with spinelike teeth, 1-2 inches long.
Dimensions: Up to 15 feet in height.
Growth Rate: Slow.
Range:
Eastern and southern United States south to Lee and Palm Beach counties.
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: Scrub.
Soils: Dry to moist, well-drained sandy soils, 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: 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.
Flower Color: White.
Flower Characteristics: Inconspicuous.
Flowering Season: Spring.
Fruit: Orange-red drupes.
Wildlife and Ecology: Provides significant food and cover for wildlife.
References: Hall (
2020), Schaefer & Tanner 1997
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.
