Duranta erecta
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- door-AN-tuh ee-RECK-tuh
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Golden dewdrop is an evergreen, sprawling shrub or rarely a small tree in the verbena family (Verbenaceae). It is native to tropical and sub-tropical Americas, including Florida. The genus name honors Castore Durante, a Papal physician and botanist in Rome. The specific epithet is Latin for “upright or erect.”
The plant grows quickly in well-drained soils in full sun. The showy clusters of flowers are light blue, purple, white or even pink and appear from summer to fall. They are followed by clusters of round, yellow-orange fruits in late summer to fall. The fruits can be fatal to dogs and children if eaten but do not harm birds. In colder climates, grow this plant as an annual, where it will reach 2 to 4 feet tall in a single season. It can also be grown in containers and brought indoors during cold weather. Pruning after flowering is recommended to keep the plant more compact. Fruits can be removed to prevent the potential spread of this plant.
Golden dewdrop grows in a somewhat weeping or sprawling habit, and flowers are borne at the end of the current season’s growth. Mature plants may have thorns.
Grow golden dewdrop in a butterfly garden, pollinator garden or cottage garden. Grow it in the border surrounded by sturdy shrubs on which the golden dewdrop and lean and sprawl. ‘Cuban Gold’ and other dwarf cultivars can be used as borders or even groundcover.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. Watch for whiteflies.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alba'
White flowers - 'Aurea'
- 'Cuban Gold'
Compact plant with chartreuse foliage - 'Geisha Girl'
Dark purple flowers outlined in white. - 'Sapphire Showers'
- 'Variegata'
- 'Alba'
- 'Alba', 'Aurea', 'Cuban Gold', 'Geisha Girl', 'Sapphire Showers', 'Variegata'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alba'
White flowers - 'Aurea'
- 'Cuban Gold'
Compact plant with chartreuse foliage - 'Geisha Girl'
Dark purple flowers outlined in white. - 'Sapphire Showers'
- 'Variegata'
- 'Alba'
- 'Alba', 'Aurea', 'Cuban Gold', 'Geisha Girl', 'Sapphire Showers', 'Variegata'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Duranta
- Species:
- erecta
- Family:
- Verbenaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Tropical and sub-tropical Americas
- Wildlife Value:
- Bees, butterflies and hummingbirds visit the flowers; birds will eat the fruit.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Erect
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Appendage:
- Thorns
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- ½ inch, yellow-orange drupes in late summer to fall hang in long, trailing clusters.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Blue to violet flowers possibly with white edging on 6 in. racemes on new growth.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Ovate to obovate, green or yellow-green leaves are 1 to 3 inches long and have entire to serrate margins. Each leaf possesses a thorn on the bottom side along the rachis (stem).
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-
Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Bark Description:
- light brown and slightly furrowed.
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-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Green long vine-like stems
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Houseplants
- Patio
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Screen/Privacy
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Salt
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Children
- Problem for Dogs
