General Landscape Uses:
Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations. Also an accent shrub in coastal areas.
Availability:
Grown by enthusiasts. Available in Key West at
Key West Botanical Garden.
Description: Medium shrub with an erect stem. Branches and leaves sometimes spiny. Leaves slightly hairy beneath.
Dimensions: About 4-6 feet in height. About as broad as tall.
Growth Rate: Moderate.
Range:
Monroe County Keys north along the east coast to Martin County; West Indies.
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: Coastal hammocks.
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: High; can tolerate moderate amounts of salt wind without significant injury.
Drought Tolerance: Moderate; generally requires moist soils, but tolerant of short periods of drought once established.
Light Requirements: Light shade.
Flower Color: Purple petals with yellow anthers.
Flower Characteristics: Semi-showy, about 1/2" wide.
Flowering Season: All year.
Fruit: Bright red berry, produced in rows.
Horticultural Notes: Can be grown from seed.
References: Hammer 2004
