FNPS Plant Database

Miconia bicolor

Florida tetrazygia, West Indian-lilac, Florida clover ash
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

Florida tetrazygia, West Indian-lilac, Florida clover ash

Synonym(s):

Tetrazygia bicolor

Genus species:

Miconia bicolor

Family:

Melastomataceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

shrub

Size:

10-30 ft

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

brown

Phenology:

Evergreen. Blooms late spring into summer.

Noted For:

Showy Flowers, Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Specimen plant. Grown for its showy flowers and shiny dark green leaves with white underside. Also works for screen (hedge) and foundation planting.

Considerations:

Availability:

Native Nurseries, FNPS Plant Sales

Propagation:

Seed, de-pulped.

Light:

Full Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

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

□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■□□□

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, Clay, Loam, Lime Rock

Soil pH:

Slightly acidic

Suitable to Grow In:

10A,10B,11

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

Don't know your zone? Click here to search by zip code.

Vouchered In:

Distribution
Vouchered
Not vouchered
Selected
Click a county The county name will appear here.
No county distribution is available for this plant yet.
Starting…
Map coded by Melissa Fernandez-de Cespedes (Paynes Prairie Chapter)

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Birds

Insect pollinated, largely by bees.

Fruits used by birds.  

Native Habitats:

Pine rockland, tropical rockland hammock. Disturbed areas.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

Edible fruits.

General Comments:

Threatened in the State of Florida.  Please acquire plants from reputable sources with any needed permits.
FNPS Plant Print

Citations:

Gilman, Edward, Ryan W. Klein, and Gail Hansen. (2024). Tetrazygia bicolor Florida Tetrazygia, West Indian Lilac (FPS-577). ( https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FP577). Accessed 2026. Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville.


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


Wurdack, J. J., & Kral, R. (1982). The Genera of Melastomataceae in the Southeastern United States. Journal of the Arnold Arboretum, 63(4), 429–439. ( https://www.jstor.org/stable/43821678 ). Accessed 2026.

Request an update