FNPS Plant Database

Byrsonima lucida

locustberry, Long Key locustberry
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

locustberry, Long Key locustberry

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Byrsonima lucida

Family:

Malpighiaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

shrub

Size:

5-15 (35) ft

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white,pink,red

Fruit Color:

orange

Phenology:

Evergreen. Blooms late winter - early summer. Fruits ripen late spring-summer.

Noted For:

Showy Flowers

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Specimen plant where its showy, multi-colored flowers can be seen. Use as a large shrub to small tree.  Works well planted in clusters.

Considerations:

Availability:

Native Nurseries, Seed

Propagation:

Seed

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded---------------------------------Extremely Dry

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Somewhat moist, no flooding -to- Very long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand

Soil pH:

calcareous

Suitable to Grow In:

10A,10B,11

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.

Don't know your zone? Click here to search by zip code.

Ecology

Wildlife:

Butterflies, Caterpillars, Birds, Mammals

Larval host for the Florida duskywing ( Ephyriades brunneus ).





Nectar plant for a variety of butterflies.

Good cover for birds, and birds and other wildlife enjoy the fruit.

Native Habitats:

Pine rockland, rockland hammock.

Natural Range in Florida:

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Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

Flower color varies, which gives the plant a multi-hued array of flowers.



Listed as Threatened in Florida

Citations:

Gann, G.D., C.J. Abbott, C.G. Stocking, K.N. Hines, and collaborators. (2001+), Natives For Your Neighborhood. ( https://www.regionalconservation.org/beta/nfyn/plantdetail.asp?tx=Byrsluci ). Accessed 2025. The Institute for Regional Conservation. Delray Beach, Florida.


Haehle, Robert G. and Joan Brookwell. (1999). Native Florida Plants. Gulf Publishing Company. Houston, TX.


Huegel, Craig N. (2010). Native Plant Landscaping for Florida Wildlife. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Osorio, Rufino. (2001). A Gardener's Guide to Florida's Native Plants. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. (1999+). Atlas of Florida Plants. ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ). [S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), USF Water Institute.] Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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