General Information
Status in Florida: Native
Native Habitat: Pine flatwoods, wet hammocks, bays, swamps
Native States: FL, GA, AL, MS, SC, NC, LA, TX, VA, MD, DE, NJ
Growing Zones: 6–10
Size at Maturity: 3–8 feet tall, 3–5 feet wide
Phenology: Evergreen
Life Cycle: Perennial
Growth Rate: Moderate
Growth Habit: Upright, rounded, dense, woody
Bloom Season: Spring
Bloom Color: White
Growth Conditions
Sunlight Requirements: Full-Part
Soil Texture: Sand, loam, peat, muck
Soil pH: Acidic to slightly acidic
Moisture Requirements: Moist, wet, adaptable
Tolerance to Salt Spray: Some Spray
Keystone Plant: No
Landscape Considerations
Recommended Landscape Uses: Hedges, foundation plantings, rain gardens, naturalistic or woodland borders
Maintenance Tips: Tolerates pruning; responds well to rejuvenation cuts every few years
Considerations: Dioecious – female plants require males for berry production; benefits from organic mulch
Hurricane Wind Resistant: Yes
Erosion Control: Yes
Nitrogen Fixing: No
Other Information
Edible: Caution (leaves used historically in tea but only from properly identified species)
Pet Safe: Yes
Deer and Rabbit Resistance: Yes
Historical Medicinal Uses: Leaves brewed into a mildly caffeinated tea by early settlers; not widely used today
Florida Native Companion Plant: Wiregrass, Pineland Loblolly Bay, Swamp Fern
Wildlife Benefit: Bees, pollinators, birds (berries on female plants)
Caterpillar Host Plant: No