FNPS Plant Database

Ernodea littoralis

beach-creeper, golden creeper
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

beach-creeper, golden creeper

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Ernodea littoralis

Family:

Rubiaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

shrub

Size:

2-3 ft tall by 2-3 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white,orange,pink,red

Fruit Color:

yellow

Phenology:

Evergreen. Blooms and fruits all year.

Noted For:

Showy Flowers, Showy Fruits

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Low specimen plant, mass plantings. Can be used as a low hedge, even sheared. Useful for beach dune stabilization.

Considerations:

Clonal.

Availability:

Native Nurseries, FNPS Plant Sales

Propagation:

Cuttings.

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:

Moderate. Tolerant of salty wind and may get some salt spray.

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Lime Rock

Soil pH:

Acidic to calcareous

Suitable to Grow In:

10A,10B,11

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

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Ecology

Wildlife:

Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Birds

Flowers attract butterflies. 

Provides food for birds.

Native Habitats:

Dunes, coastal areas with rocky soils (sunny, open areas), pine rockland

Natural Range in Florida:

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Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

Citations:

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


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


Nelson, Gil. (2003). Florida's Best Landscape Plants: 200 Readily Available Species for Homeowners and Professionals. 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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