Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Southern Texas Plains
Coastal Sand Plain, Lower Rio Grande Alluvial Floodplain, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Southern Subhumid Gulf Coastal Prairies
Rio Grande Floodplain and Terraces, Texas-Tamaulipan Thornscrub
Plant Characteristics
Growth Form
Shrub
Height
3
to
6
ft.
Spread
3
to
6
ft.
Leaf Retention
Semi Evergreen
Lifespan
Perennial
Habitat and Care Requirements
Soil Type(s)
Sand, Loam, Clay, Limestone, Well Drained
Light Requirement
Part Shade
Water Requirement
Medium
Native Habitat
Woodland
Bloom and Attraction
Bloom Color
Pink
Bloom Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Seasonal Interest
Berry, Nectar, Larval Host, Flowers
Wildlife Benefit
Butterflies, Birds, Small Mammals
Maintenance
It is useful as a dense screening hedge that may be left soft, sheared, or as a specimen. Propagation: Softwood cuttings.
Comments
Blooms January-December. Barbados Cherry develops into a thick, rounded canopy of fairly delicate foliage. Evergreen above 25 degrees F. Small pink flowers appear periodically from April to October and are followed about one month later by bright red berries that are prized by birds and small mammals. Larval Host: Brown-banded Skipper, White-patched Skipper, Florida Duskywing, Cassius Blue. Replaces invasives: Nandina
References
1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) Wasowski and Wasowski, Native Texas Plants Landscaping Region by Region, 1991, pg. 250. 3) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=MAGL6. 4) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=14453&locationType=County&mapType=Normal. 5) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=565291#null, 6) Native and Adapted Landscape Plants, City of Austin and Texas A&M, 2014.