• Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Picramnia pentandra

Florida bitterbush

Nomenclature

Common Name:

Florida bitterbush

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Picramnia pentandra

Family:

Picramniaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

shrub

Size:

10-15 ft tall by about 5 ft wide.

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

red

Phenology:

evergreen

Noted For:

Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Useful as a grouped planting or potentially a small specimen tree or large shrub.

Considerations:

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Availability:

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Propagation:

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Light:

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Moisture Tolerance:

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

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Usually moist, occasional inundation -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:

Soil pH:

Acidic to neutral

Suitable to Grow In:

10A,10B,11

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Caterpillars, Birds

Larval host for the bush sulphur butterfly, Urema dina helios





Attracts generalist pollinators.

Birds eat the seed. 





Dispersal is by birds and gravity.

Native Habitats:

Tropical rockland hammock.

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

Used as a tonic.

General Comments:

Listed as Endangered by the FDACS.  Please acquire only from reputable sources that have any needed permits.



This has been known to escape outside of its range when cultivated.