Common Name:

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Family:

Lamiaceae (Labiatae)

Form:

Size:

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

Fruit Color:

Phenology:

Noted For:

Recommended Uses:

Specimen plant, mass planting, casual shrub screen

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- Somewhat 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, Loam

Soil pH:

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B,10A,10B

Wildlife:

Many bird species consume the fruit. including catbirds, mockinbirds, and robins.

Native Habitats:

Dry mesic hardwoods, xeric hammock, scrubby flatwoods, flatwoods, disturbed dry-moist woods.

Ethnobotany:

Sometimes used to make jelly which is noted for its color.

There are three chemicals in the leaves that may be as effective as DEET as an insect repellant (Cantrell et al. 2005; Cantrell & Klun 2011). One, callicarpenal, apparently deters biting by the yellow-fever mosquito and the mosquito that spreads malaria. Callicarpenal and other compounds isolated from the plant also repell fire ants and ticks.

General Comments:

Fruits are magenta. There is a white-fruited/white-flowered variety, uncommonly found naturally in Florida, that is sold occasionally.