FNPS Plant Database

Piscidia piscipula

Jamaica-dogwood, fish-poison tree
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

Jamaica-dogwood, fish-poison tree

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Piscidia piscipula

Family:

Fabaceae (Leguminosae)

Plant Specifics

Form:

tree

Size:

to 45 ft

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

pink,lavender

Fruit Color:

Phenology:

Deciduous. Blooms in spring before it leafs out.

Noted For:

Showy Flowers, Showy Fruits

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Shade tree. Also good for hedge rows.

Considerations:

Availability:

Native Nurseries, Seed

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:

Soil pH:

Calcareous (high pH)

Suitable to Grow In:

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
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, Caterpillars

Larval host for cassius blue ( Leptotes cassius ) and hammock skipper ( Polygonus leo ) butterflies.





Attracts bee pollinators.

Native Habitats:

Dry sites. Hammocks, somewhat shady areas near the coast.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

Native Americans used an extract from the bark, roots, twigs, and leaves to sedate fish, making them easier to catch. Has been used as a medicine.

General Comments:

FNPS Plant Print

Citations:

Gann, G.D., C.J. Abbott, C.G. Stocking, K.N. Hines, and collaborators. (2001+). Natives For Your Neighborhood. ( https://www.regionalconservation.org/beta/nfyn/plantdetail.asp?tx=Piscpisc ). Accessed 2026. The Institute for Regional Conservation. Delray Beach, Florida.


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


Minno, Marc, and Maria Minno. (1999). Florida Butterfly Gardening: A Complete Guide to Attracting, Identifying, and Enjoying Butterflies. 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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