FNPS Plant Database

Myrsine cubana

myrsine, colicwood
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

myrsine, colicwood

Synonym(s):

Rapanea punctata, Rapanea cubana

Genus species:

Myrsine cubana

Family:

Myrsinaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

Shrub

Size:

8–15 (30) ft tall by 3–8 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

black

Phenology:

Evergreen

Noted For:

Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Hedge or screen plant. Can be used on the edges of parking lots. Fairly narrow in form.

Considerations:

Availability:

Native Nurseries

Propagation:

Can be grown from seed.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun, Shade

Moisture Tolerance:

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

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Usually moist, occasional inundation -to- Not wet but not extremely dry

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

Soil pH:

Circum to neutral

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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Starting…
Map coded by Melissa Fernandez-de Cespedes (Paynes Prairie Chapter)

Ecology

Wildlife:

Birds, Mammals

Good wildlife shelter. Birds eat the fruits.

Native Habitats:

Hammocks, pinelands, sloughs, seasonally flooded marshes in pine rocklands

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

It's quite hardy and tolerant of difficult environments. The herbarium specimen from Wakulla County is from a natural area. It is a 2012 specimen and could represent a range expansion.
FNPS Plant Print

Citations:

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, FL.

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