Operation
NICE! plant of the season
Summer 2009
Perennial ground cover
for shade: Pigeon-Berry (Rivina humilis L.)
E
Photo by
Lon Turnbull
Description: Pigeon-Berry (Rivina humilis L.),
also called Coralito, or Rouge Plant, is native to the southern US as
far north as Oklahoma. It is a small shrubby perennial that
can
grow from 18 to 34 inches tall in North Texas with smooth (glabrous)
leaves that are 1 to 3 inches long. It has an upright
habit. Pigeon-Berry is perennial and deciduous, going dormant
over the winter in North Texas.
Flowers and berries:
Pigeon-Berry has very small pinkish-white flowers during most of its
growing season, that give rise to brilliant red berries. The
plant often has berries and flowers at the same time.
Planting sites: Pigeon-Berry can be planted in
dappled, part or full shade and in many types of soils.
Watering Instructions:
Pigeon-Berry should be watered after planting and again every other
week during its first growing season. Once established,
Pigeon-Berry will grow with existing rainfall because of its drought
tolerance; during extreme drought, it may go dormant, but will
re-emerge from the soil after the first rainfall.
Comments: Pigeon-Berry
is an outstanding addition for shady areas that are not
irrigated. Its wavy foliage is very attractive and its red
berries are irresistible to birds and will attract a variety of birds
to your yard. However, neither the berries nor other parts of
this plant are for human consumption. Consider using
Pigeon-Berry
instead of hosta in shady areas - Pigeon-Berry won't need the
supplemental water that hosta must have to survive our North Texas
summers.
Look for the NICE! Plant of the Season signs and information sheets on
your next visit to a participating
North Texas nursery. Thank
you for using native plants in your landscapes.
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Last noted update by
Lon: May 21, 2009.