COMMON NAME
Locust berry
SCIENTIFIC NAME
Byrsonima lucida
Plant family
Barbados Cherry (Malpighiaceae)
Plant group
Broadleaf Evergreens
A shrub that typically grows 5-15' tall with a short trunk and many smaller ascending branches.
83 reports
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OBSERVERS
83+
OBSERVATIONS
Identification hints
The crown of this shrub is typically rounded or flat topped, and dense with foliage. White to pink flowers are often visible throughout the year and turn a dark red as they age.
Did you know?
Locustberry is nicknamed "the Buzzing Tree" because of its importance to native bees. It is the host and nectar plant for the Florida Duskywing and many animals eat the berries.
DISTRIBUTION IN TH U.S.
Florida
,
Puerto Rico
,
Virgin Islands
HABITAT
Locust berry shrubs are found in pine rocklands of southern Florida and the Florida Keys. It has a low tolerance for saltwater.
ATTRIBUTES
Leaves
Leathery 1.5" long, oval leaves appear two at a time along the stems (opposite).
Flowers
The small, loosely clustered flowers start off white, but turn pink and red. Crinkled looking petals are attached to the flower by narrow stalks.
Fruits
Fruits are 1" wide, round, and fleshy, ripening to red.
Bark
Bark is thin and pale brown.
Bloom Time
Flowering throughout the year, but peaking in the late winter/early spring.
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