General Landscape Uses:
Evergreen specimen tree.
Availability:
Commonly available at native plant nurseries in northeast Florida. Available at native plant nurseries in central Florida.
Description: Attractive evergreen tree 30-50 feet tall with 2-4 inch long spiny, shiny green leaves. Takes on a pyramidal form. Bark is splotchy gray and whitish.
Dimensions: Typically 30 to 50 feet in height. Taller than broad.
Range:
Eastern and southern United States south to Lee and Palm Beach 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.
Map of ZIP codes with habitat recommendations from the Monroe County Keys north to Martin and Charlotte counties.
Habitats: Moist hammocks.
Soils: Moist, well-drained sandy or limestone soils, with humusy top layer and acid pH.
Nutritional Requirements: Moderate; can grow in nutrient poor soils, but needs some organic content to thrive.
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: Moderate; generally requires moist soils, but tolerant of short periods of drought once established.
Light Requirements: Full sun to light shade.
Flower Color: White.
Flower Characteristics: Inconspicuous.
Flowering Season: Spring to summer.
Fruit: Showy, bright red berries in fall and winter.
Wildlife and Ecology: Provides significant food and cover for wildlife. Attracts pollinators. Larval plant for Henry's Elfin (Callophrys henrici) butterfly.
References: Nelson (
2003), Schaefer & Tanner 1997, Nelson 1994
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.
