FNPS Plant Database

Lyonia ferruginea

rusty lyonia
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

rusty lyonia

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Lyonia ferruginea

Family:

Ericaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

tree

Size:

10-15 ft tall by 5-8 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

brown

Phenology:

Evergreen. Blooms in spring.

Noted For:

Showy Flowers, Interesting Foliage, Interesting Bark

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Use where this small tree's interesting shape will be an asset. Does well as a small specimen tree near walkways. Also useful as a screen in dry settings.

Considerations:

Availability:

Native Nurseries

Propagation:

Light:

Full 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:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand

Soil pH:

Acidic

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B,10A,10B,11

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.

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Vouchered In:

Distribution
Vouchered
Not vouchered
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Map coded by Melissa Fernandez-de Cespedes (Paynes Prairie Chapter)

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators

Attracts bees. The following Hymenoptera families and species were observed visiting flowers of  Lyonia ferruginea  at Archbold Biological Station as reported by Coastal Plant Plants Wiki.







  • Apidae:  Apis mellifera, Bombus impatiens


  • Colletidae:  Colletes brimleyi, C. productus


  • Halictidae:  Agapostemon splendens, Augochlorella aurata, Augochloropsis sumptuosa


  • Megachilidae:  Megachile xylocopoides


  • Sphecidae:  Oxybelus laetus fulvipes, Stictiella serrata, Tachysphex apicalis


  • Vespidae:  Stenodynerus lineatifrons


Native Habitats:

Scrub, scrubby flatwoods, overgrown sandhill.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

New leaves are rusty-orange. Easy to care for.



Can grow as a small tree or a shrub.  

Citations:

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


Nelson, Gil. (2003). Florida's Best Landscape Plants: 200 Readily Available Species for Homeowners and Professionals. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Osorio, Rufino. (2001). A Gardener's Guide to Florida's Native Plants. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. (1999+). Atlas of Florida Plants. ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ). [S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), USF Water Institute.] Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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