FNPS Plant Database

Eugenia foetida

Spanish stopper, boxleaf stopper
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: John Bradford, Martin County Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: John Bradford, Martin County Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

Spanish stopper, boxleaf stopper

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Eugenia foetida

Family:

Myrtaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

shrub

Size:

12-15 (36) ft.

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

brown,black

Phenology:

Evergreen. Flowers in summer. Fruits ripen in fall.

Noted For:

Aroma/Showy Fruitsagrance, Hurricane Wind Resistance, Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Used as a foundation or hedge plant. Large shrub to small tree. Can also be used as a specimen plant.

Considerations:

Availability:

Quality Nurseries, Native Nurseries

Propagation:

De-pulped seed.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

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

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Somewhat moist, no flooding -to- Somewhat 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, Loam, Lime Rock

Soil pH:

alkaline

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:

Pollinators, Birds, Mammals

Attracts pollinators.

 Birds and other wildlife consume fruit. Provides good cover.

Native Habitats:

Coastal hammocks, hammocks.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

Citations:

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



Institute for Regional Conservation.  Accessed 2021.  Natives for Your Neighborhood.   https://www.regionalconservation.org/beta/nfyn/plantdetail.asp?tx=Eugefoet. (SF occurrence, soils, salt tolerance).



Osorio, Rufino. 2001. A gardener's guide to Florida's native plants.  University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.



Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. 2021. Atlas of Florida Plants ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ).  Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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