Lyonia ligustrina

• 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