These tender flowering shrubs feature glossy green leaves arranged in pairs or whorls along stems. Attractive blue or white flowers in clusters attract butterflies in summer, are followed by bunches of berrylike yellow fruit. Plants marketed as Duranta stenostachya are often actually Duranta erecta; distinguishing characteristics are described below. Use as quick, tall screen. Thrive in heat. Need continual thinning and pruning to stay under control. Good container plants.
brazilian sky flower
SKY FLOWER, GOLDEN DEWDROP, PIGEON BERRY
duranta erecta(Duranta repens, Duranta plumieri)
- Native to southern Florida, West Indies, Mexico to Brazil.
- Fast growing to 1025 feet tall, 610 feet wide.
- Tends to form multistemmed clumps; branches often drooping and vinelike.
- Stems may or may not have sharp spines.
- Oval to roundish leaves are 12 inches long, rounded or pointed at tip.
- Tubular violet-blue flowers flare to less than inches wide; they are followed by waxy yellow berries in clusters 16 inches long.
- Alba has white flowers.
- Cuban Gold ('Goldii') has leaves in shades of lime-green and gold.
- Sweet Memories is thornless, with flower petals edged in white.
- Geisha Girl ('Sapphire Swirl') and 'Sapphire Showers' also have purple flowers edged with white.
- Golden Edge has brilliant gold leaves with a streak of dark green down the center; often grown as an annual in areas where it isn't hardy.
- Sheenas Gold' is the revesegreen leaves with golden centers.
- The golden-leafed 'Aurea' is a drought-tolerant dwarf form reaching only 2 feet high.
- Native to Brazil.
- Not as hardy as Duranta erecta; seems to require more heat.
- Makes neater, more compact shrub than Duranta erecta, growing to about 46 feet tall, 35 feet wide (under ideal conditions, 15 feet high).
- Stems do not have spines.
- Leaves are larger (38 inches long) than those of Duranta erecta and taper to a long, slender point.
- Lavender-blue flowers are also somewhat larger; fruit clusters grow to 1ft.long.