Natives For Your Neighborhood
Conservation of rare plants, animals, and ecosystems

General Landscape Uses: Accent shrub. Informal hedges. Buffer plantings.

Availability: Native plant nurseries.

Description: Medium shrub dull green leaves.

Dimensions: Typically 3-4 feet in height. Usually as broad as tall.

Growth Rate: Moderate.

Range: Miami-Dade County and the Monroe County mainland north to Volusia, Lake, Sumpter and Citrus counties; West Indies, Mexico and Central America.

 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 forests and swamps.

Soils: Moist, well-drained sandy or limestone soils, with humusy top layer.

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 to low; requires moist to wet soils, but tolerant of short periods of drought once established.

Light Requirements: Light shade.

Flower Color: Green.

Flower Characteristics: Inconspicuous.

Flowering Season: Spring-summer.

Fruit: Red, orange, or yellow drupe.

Wildlife and Ecology: Provides food and cover for wildlife. Birds and other animals eat the fruits.

Horticultural Notes: Can be grown from de-pulped seed. Place seeds on top of soil and sprinkle soil over the seeds to just cover. Place container in light shade.

References: Miami-Dade County Landscape Manual (2005).