GOLDEN DEWDROP or BRAZILIAN SKY FLOWER Duranta erecta ‘Sapphire Showers’

Characteristics • Type: Tender Perennial • Water: Medium • Common Name: Brazilian Sky Flower, • Maintenance: Medium Sapphire Showers • Suggested Use: Annual • Height: 15.00 to 20.00 feet • Flower: Showy • Spread: 8.00 to 10.00 feet • Leaf: Evergreen • Bloom Time: Summer to first frost • Fruit: Showy • Bloom Description: Light blue, violet or • Other: Thorns white • Texas Superstar® • Sun: Full sun, partial shade Culture

Winter hardy to USDA Zones 10-11 where plants are grown in moist, fertile, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerates light shade, but best flowering is in full sun. Tolerates wide range of soils. Grow as an annual shrub, in containers or as a houseplant in zones below Zone 10. Container plants must be brought inside in fall before first frost for overwintering in a bright sun room.

Noteworthy Characteristics

Duranta erecta, commonly called golden dewdrop, pigeon berry or sky flower, is native from Florida to Brazil and in the West Indies. It is a spreading, sometimes weeping, evergreen shrub or small tree that grows to 15-20’ tall in its native habitat. In north Texas, it is typically grown as a 2-4’ tall annual shrub or in containers that must be overwintered indoors. Sharp axillary thorns are usually present on stems of mature plants, but are usually absent on young plants. Features drooping axillary and terminal racemes of light blue to violet flowers which bloom summer to fall. Flowers give way in fall to drooping clusters of yellow-orange drupes (golden dewberries as it were). Oval rounded light green leaves (to 2” long).

Problems

No serious insect or disease problems. Watch for whiteflies.

Garden Uses

Hedge, border plant, lawn specimen or train as small tree in warm climates. In cooler regions, grow as annual, in containers, houseplant or greenhouses.