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Lyonia ligustrina

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
ly-OH-nee-ah lig-oo-STREE-nah
This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Maleberry is a native deciduous shrub found in low, alluvial woods & thickets, wet meadows, bogs and lakeshores. It requires wet, medium-drained, acidic soils and part to full sun. It typically grows at least as wide as tall and has urn-shaped blooms in spring and early summer. It blooms on previous years growth so prune after flowering.

Two varieties occur in our region. Lyonia ligustrina var. foliosiflora has conspicuous bracts among the flowers in the inflorescence and is more common in the Coastal and Piedmont regions. Lyonia ligustrina var. ligustrina lacks conspicuous bracts among the flowers and is more common in the Mountains and Piedmont. 

Plant it in a shrub border or as a hedge in a woodland, rain, or water garden.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • var. ligustrina
    Found in moist habitats in bogs
var. ligustrina
Tags:
#evergreen#water garden#rain garden#honey bees#nectar plant#native shrub#native bees#stream banks#pond margins#honey#specialized bees#NC native#acidic soils tolerant#pollinator plant#NC Native Pollinator Plant#wet soils tolerant#problem for cats#problem for dogs#bee friendly#problem for horses#shrub borders#hedge#boggy sites#wildlife friendly#woodland
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • var. ligustrina
    Found in moist habitats in bogs
var. ligustrina
Tags:
#evergreen#water garden#rain garden#honey bees#nectar plant#native shrub#native bees#stream banks#pond margins#honey#specialized bees#NC native#acidic soils tolerant#pollinator plant#NC Native Pollinator Plant#wet soils tolerant#problem for cats#problem for dogs#bee friendly#problem for horses#shrub borders#hedge#boggy sites#wildlife friendly#woodland
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Lyonia
    Species:
    ligustrina
    Family:
    Ericaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Easter U.S.A., NC
    Distribution:
    AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , VT , WV
    Wildlife Value:
    Maleberry is a nectar plant and produces good tasting honey. Members of the genus Lyonia support the following specialized bees: Colletes productu and Melitta (Cilissa) melittoides.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Native Plant
    Perennial
    Poisonous
    Shrub
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Multi-stemmed
    Spreading
  • 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:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Wet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Green
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Description:
    The 5-parted seed capsule splits open when ripe.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Raceme
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Urn
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    White flowers in spring and early summer on previous season's growth. Small, white or pink, urn-shaped and drooping, in terminal clusters
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Orange
    Red/Burgundy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Oblong
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Ovate grey-green leaves covered with fine hairs are 1.5- 3 inches long with a pointed tip. The fall color is orange-red.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Brown
    Red/Burgundy
    Bark Description:
    Brown to reddish-brown with long horizontal splits developing.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Pond
    Riparian
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Native Garden
    Rain Garden
    Water Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Hedge
    Attracts:
    Pollinators
    Specialized Bees
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Wet Soil
    Problems:
    Problem for Cats
    Problem for Dogs
    Problem for Horses
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    High
    Poison Symptoms:
    Signs of Toxicity occur usually within six hours of consuming the plant. Symptoms include lack of coordination, excessive salivation, abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, weakness, muscular spasms, watering of eyes and nose, slow pulse, colic, ataxia, depression, sweating, tingling of skin, convulsions, paralysis, coma, and sometimes even death. Toxicity in sheep, goats, cattle, and horses is most likely to occur in late winter or early spring when other forage is not available. Livestock are found down, unable to stand with their head weaving from side to side.
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Andromedotoxin, Resinoid, Glucoside, Arbutin, Grayanotoxins
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No
    Poison Part:
    Flowers
    Leaves
    Sap/Juice