General Information
Status in Florida: Native
Native Habitat: Scrub, sandhills, pine flatwoods, dry hammocks
Native States: FL, GA, AL, SC
Growing Zones: 8a–10a
Size at Maturity: 6–15 ft tall, 4–10 ft wide
Phenology: Evergreen
Life Cycle: Perennial
Growth Rate: Moderate
Growth Habit: Upright, Woody, Irregular
Bloom Season: Winter to Spring (typically February to April)
Bloom Color: White to pale pink
Growth Conditions
Sunlight Requirements: Full-Part
Soil Texture: Sand, Loam
Soil pH: Acidic
Moisture Requirements: Dry to Average
Tolerance to Salt Spray: Low/None
Keystone Plant: No
Landscape Considerations
Recommended Landscape Uses: Screening, understory shrub, naturalistic landscapes, native plantings, pollinator gardens
Maintenance Tips: Minimal pruning needed; prefers well-drained acidic soil; avoid overwatering
Considerations: Rusty undersides of leaves are a distinct and attractive feature
Hurricane Wind Resistant: Yes
Erosion Control: Yes
Nitrogen Fixing: No
Other Information
Edible: No
Pet Safe: Caution (not listed as toxic, but not confirmed safe)
Deer and Rabbit Resistance: Yes
Historical Medicinal Uses: Bark used historically as an astringent and for treating fevers
Florida Native Companion Plant: Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens), wiregrass (Aristida stricta), Chapman’s oak (Quercus chapmanii), and gopher apple (Licania michauxii)
Wildlife Benefit: Birds (cover and nesting), pollinators (nectar), small mammals
Caterpillar Host Plant: No
Propagation: Seed, Cuttings