FNPS Plant Database

Prunus myrtifolia

West Indian cherry
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

West Indian cherry

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Prunus myrtifolia

Family:

Rosaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

tree

Size:

25-35 (50) ft

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

brownish-orange

Phenology:

Evergreen. Blooms fall-winter.

Noted For:

Showy Flowers, Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Specimen tree, edge plant, or part of a clump of trees.

Considerations:

Availability:

Propagation:

Seed

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

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

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Usually moist, occasional inundation -to- Somewhat 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, Lime Rock

Soil pH:

Calcareous (high pH)

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:

Pollinators, Birds

Pollinated by bees.

Primarily dispersed by birds but other animals also eat the fruit.

Native Habitats:

Tropical rockland hammock, pine rockland.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

Fruits are not edible.  Leaves and seeds are poisonous to humans.

General Comments:

Listed as Threatened by the FDACS.

Citations:

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


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=Prunmyrt ). Accessed 2026. The Institute for Regional Conservation. Delray Beach, Florida.


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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