FNPS Plant Database

Scaevola plumieri

beachberry, inkberry, gullfeed

PHOTOS COMING SOON!

Nomenclature

Common Name:

beachberry, inkberry, gullfeed

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Scaevola plumieri

Family:

Goodeniaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

shrub

Size:

4-6 ft tall by 4-8 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

black

Phenology:

evergreen

Noted For:

Showy Flowers, Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

If present in the landscape, retain. Use as a shrub in coastal areas where it can make a nice screen, form a hedge, or be a foundation plant. Also appropriate for dune stabilization.

Considerations:

Availability:

Native Nurseries

Propagation:

Seed and layering.

Light:

Full Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

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

Coming Soon!

Not wet but not extremely dry ---to--- Very long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

High. Can tolerate significant and ongoing amounts of salt.

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand

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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Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Birds

Bees are believed to be the primary pollinators.  Also attracts wasps, moths, and ants.

Fruits attract birds.

Native Habitats:

Coastal sites.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

This is a rare plant. Please acquire from a reputable nursery. It is close kin to an invasive exotic (S. frutescens)from Australia -- be sure you are planting the native.

Citations:

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



Institute for Regional Conservation (IRC).  https://www.regionalconservation.org/beta/nfyn/plantdetail.asp



http://www.bio.bas.bg/~phytolbalcan/PDF/25_2/PhytolBalcan_25-2_10_Raju_&_al.pdf



Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. 2021. Atlas of Florida Plants ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ).  Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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