FNPS Plant Database

Guapira discolor

blolly, beefwood
  • Photo by: John Bradford, Martin County Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: John Bradford, Martin County Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: John Bradford, Martin County Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: John Bradford, Martin County Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

blolly, beefwood

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Guapira discolor

Family:

Nyctaginaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

tree

Size:

20 - 30 (45) ft tall

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

green

Fruit Color:

red

Phenology:

Evergreen. Blooms (not showy) in late spring. Fruits ripen summer-fall.

Noted For:

Showy Fruits, Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Small tree or large shrub known for its shiny leaves. Can be used in difficult sites (such as road edges, spoil piles, etc.).

Considerations:

Availability:

Native Nurseries

Propagation:

Seed.

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:

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:

Pollinators, Birds

Seeds eaten by birds. Also provides cover.

Native Habitats:

Dry-moist sites. Tropical hammocks, pine rocklands, coastal rock flats, coastal hammocks.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

Once logged for its wood.

General Comments:

Listed as Endangered by the State of Florida.

Citations:

IRC.  https://www.regionalconservation.org/beta/nfyn/plantdetail.asp?tx=Guapdisc#:~:text=Description: Small tree or large,1 to 2 inches long. (salt)



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



Huegel, Craig, N.  2010.  Native plant landscaping for Florida wildlife.  University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL. (wildlife uses)



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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