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Native Plant Society of Texas

Pigeonberry

Rivina humilis

Other common name(s):

Rouge Plant, Baby-peppers, Bloodberry

Family:

Phytolaccaceae (Pokeweed Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Central Great Plains, Chihuahuan Deserts, Cross Timbers, East Central Texas Plains, Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Southern Texas Plains, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Limestone Plains
Chihuahuan Basins and Playas, Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands, Chihuahuan Montane Woodlands, Low Mountains and Bajadas, Stockton Plateau
Eastern Cross Timbers, Grand Prairie, Limestone Cut Plain, Western Cross Timbers
Bastrop Lost Pines, Floodplains and Low Terraces2, San Antonio Prairie, Southern Post Oak Savanna
Balcones Canyonlands, Edwards Plateau Woodland, Llano Uplift, Semiarid Edwards Plateau
Coastal Sand Plain, Floodplains and Low Terraces4, Laguna Madre Barrier Island and Coastal Marshes, Lower Rio Grande Alluvial Floodplain, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Mid-Coast Barrier Islands and Coastal Marshes, Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Southern Subhumid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Texas-Louisiana Coastal Marshes
Northern Nueces Alluvial Plains, Rio Grande Floodplain and Terraces, Semiarid Edwards Bajada, Texas-Tamaulipan Thornscrub
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie, Southern Blackland Prairie
Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Herbaceous

Height

1
to
1.5
ft.

Spread

0.5
to
1.5
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Clay, Loam, Moist, Rocky, Sand

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade, Shade

Water Requirement

Low, Medium

Native Habitat

Disturbed Areas, Grassland, Riparian, Shrubland, Woodland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Pink, White

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Fruit, Nectar, Pollen

Wildlife Benefit

Bees, Birds, Butterflies

Maintenance

Spreads rapidly. Tolerates moist or dry soil. Lightly prune if it gets leggy. May go dormant in drought. Although popular as a shade plant, NPSOT members have reported it growing in full sun with no supplemental water. Can be grown in container gardens. WARNING: fruit and leaves are toxic to humans. Native habitat: moist or alluvial soils in partial soil, hilly chaparral, woods, hammocks, thickets, roadsides, disturbed areas, canyons, riparian habitats, oak woods, grassland, desert scrub, shade of shrubs and trees in moist places, along watercourses .

Description

Blooms January-December, depending on growing conditions. Plants are erect or straggling. Leaves vary from lance-shaped to oval with wavy edges. Small flowers are clustered on spikes that are terminal or occur in axis of leaves. The fruit is a small red berry. Larval host: Goodson’s greenstreak (Cyanophrys goodsoni).

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) Wasowski and Wasowski, Native Texas Plants Landscaping Region by Region, 1991, pg. 108. 3) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=RIHU2. 4) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Rivina+humilis&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 5) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=16742&locationType=County&mapType=Normal. 6) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=19534#null, 7) Native and Adapted Landscape Plants, City of Austin and Texas A&M, 2014., 8) https://seedsource.com/pigeonberry/ 9) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rivina_humilis 10) https://sharonsflorida.com/plants-page/native-shrubs/rouge-plant/#:~:text=Propagation,it%20more%20difficult%20to%20remove.

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed No Treatment It is easiest to clean the fruit while fresh because once dried the pulp sticks to the seed, making it more difficult to remove. Sow seeds in a well-draining soil mix and keep them moist until germination. When collecting the berries with the intent saving seeds, one should always make sure the berry is completely ripe. If the berries are deep red and come off the plant easily, they are ripe. Pink berries are not ripe and may not be viable. 1) https://earthone.io/plant/rivina%20humilis 2) https://sharonsflorida.com/plants-page/native-shrubs/rouge-plant/#:~:text=Propagation,it%20more%20difficult%20to%20remove.
Stem Cutting Pigeonberry is best propagated from cuttings during the warm seasons of spring and summer. This plant's propagation is moderately easy. Ensure a well-draining soil mix for optimal results. For stem cuttings, take a healthy cutting with several nodes, remove the lower leaves, and place it in moist soil or water until roots develop. Look for new growth as a sign of successful propagation. 1) https://earthone.io/plant/rivina%20humilis 2) https://www.picturethisai.com/care/Rivina_humilis.html#:~:text=How%20to%20Propagate%20Pigeonberry?,acclimatizes%20to%20its%20new%20abode.

About the Region

2026 Fall Symposium Logo

This low-elevations region of Texas extends inland from the barrier islands, about 60 or so miles, and stretches from Brownsville to Louisiana. In total, it covers about 9.5 million acres, with a high point of 150 feet in elevation. More than 1000 species of plants can be found in this region. On the southern end, species more common in Mexico (such as Sabal mexicana) and Central America occur.

The barrier islands provide us with dune systems, and clay flats to the inland side, which have species found in these areas alone. Many plants here, such as Ipomoea pes-caprae (beach morning glory), can be found throughout tropical regions of the globe. I’ve encountered the same species on the beaches of Guam.

Once inland, vast marshes and wet prairies occur. Occasionally, oak (Quercus fusiformis) groves can be found. Common grasses include species of Bothriochloa, Paspalum, and Sporobolus; eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides); and switchgrass (Panicum species). Many rivers and creeks cut through the Gulf Prairies, and along these riparian areas various species of trees, Sabal minor, and other plants adapted to clay soils can be found. Due to overgrazing, farming, and fire suppression, woody species such as mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and huisache (Acacia farnesiana), and invasive species such as chinaberry (Melia azedarach), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), and Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum) have increased and displaced our native flora.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason