General Information
Status in Florida: Native
Native Habitat: Pine flatwoods, coastal hammocks, marsh edges, disturbed areas
Native States: FL, GA, AL, MS, LA, SC, NC, TX, VA, MD, DE, NJ
Growing Zones: 7–11
Size at Maturity: 10–20 feet tall, 8–15 feet wide
Phenology: Evergreen
Life Cycle: Perennial
Growth Rate: Fast
Growth Habit: Upright, dense, multi-stemmed, irregular, thicket-forming
Bloom Season: Winter to early spring
Bloom Color: Yellow-green (inconspicuous)
Growth Conditions
Sunlight Requirements: Full-Part
Soil Texture: Sand, loam, muck, adaptable
Soil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral
Moisture Requirements: Moist, average, adaptable
Tolerance to Salt Spray: Tolerant
Keystone Plant: No
Landscape Considerations
Recommended Landscape Uses: Screening, hedges, windbreaks, wildlife habitat, restoration plantings
Maintenance Tips: Can be pruned to shape or maintained as a hedge; may sucker and form colonies
Considerations: Dioecious – female plants need males nearby for fruit; may become weedy in disturbed sites
Hurricane Wind Resistant: Yes
Erosion Control: Yes
Nitrogen Fixing: Yes
Other Information
Edible: No (berries not for human consumption)
Pet Safe: Yes
Deer and Rabbit Resistance: Yes
Historical Medicinal Uses: Leaves used traditionally for colds, fevers, and as astringent; berries used for candles
Florida Native Companion Plant: Yaupon Holly, Saw Palmetto, Muhly Grass
Wildlife Benefit: Birds (especially waxwings and warblers), small mammals, cover and nesting habitat
Caterpillar Host Plant: Yes – host to Red-banded Hairstreak (Calycopis cecrops)