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

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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, 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.

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Vouchered In:

Distribution
Vouchered
Not vouchered
Selected
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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, FL.


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.

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