General Landscape Uses:
Hedge plant with edible fruit.
Availability:
Commonly available at native plant nurseries in central Florida. Available at native plant nurseries in northeast Florida.
Description: Deciduous shrub 6-15 feet tall with widely variable leaf shape and size. Edible fruits.
Dimensions: Up to 15 feet in height.
Growth Rate: Moderately fast.
Range:
Northeastern and southern United States south to Collier county.
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: Hammocks, swamps, bogs, pinelands.
Soils: Moist to wet, well-drained to poorly drained sandy or organic soils with acid pH, with or without humus.
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: Low; requires moist to wet soils and is intolerant of long periods of drought.
Light Requirements: Light shade to full sun.
Flower Color: White, sometimes with pink.
Flower Characteristics: Showy.
Flowering Season: Spring.
Fruit: Blue or black berry.
Wildlife and Ecology: Nectar plant for butterflies. Provides food for birds.
References: Hall (
2020), Mellichamp (
2014)
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.
