General Landscape Uses:
Understory shrub for natural landscapes.
Availability:
Commonly available at native plant nurseries in northeast Florida.
Description: Open, deciduous, multi-branched shrub 3-6 feet tall with 1-3 inch leaves and arching branches. Fruit is a 1 inch warty reddish capsule which splits open to expose reddish orange dangling seeds.
Dimensions: Typically 3-6 feet in height. Taller than broad.
Growth Rate: Moderate.
Range:
Central and eastern United States west to Eastern Oklahoma and Texas, south to Sarasota, Hardee, and Highlands counties.
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.
Habitats: Moist hammocks and woodlands, stream banks.
Soils: Moist to wet, moderately well-drained sandy soils, 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 flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance: Low; salt wind may burn the leaves.
Drought Tolerance: Moderate; generally requires moist soils, but tolerant of short periods of drought once established.
Light Requirements: Moderate shade to light shade.
Flower Color: Yellowish-green.
Flower Characteristics: Insignificant.
Flowering Season: March and April.
Fruit: Bright red, knobby pods with orange seeds, 1 inch in diameter.
Wildlife and Ecology: Seeds provide food for birds.
References: Mellichamp (
2014), Nelson (
2003)
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. Physicians used the bark as a tonic, expectorant, and laxative. Fruits may cause unconsciousness and vomiting.
