Photo by: Roger Hammer, Dade Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

pearl berry, tearshrub

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Vallesia antillana

Family:

Apocynaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

shrub

Size:

5-10. ft tall by 5-10 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

white

Phenology:

evergreen

Noted For:

Showy Fruits, Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Specimen shrub. Foliage is shiny, attractive. Grown mostly for its interesting, translucent fruits.

Considerations:

Availability:

Native Nurseries, Seed

Propagation:

De-pulped seed.

Light:

Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

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

Coming Soon!

Usually moist, occasional inundation ---to--- Not wet but not extremely dry

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Loam, Lime Rock

Soil pH:

alkaline

Suitable to Grow In:

Ecology

Wildlife:

Birds, Mammals

Native Habitats:

Tropical rockland hammock, coastal rock barren, beach dune, coastal strand. Lower Keys only.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

It is listed as endangered by the state of Florida and as critically imperiled in South Florida by The Institute for Regional Conservation.