Though there are plenty of reasons to appreciate it throughout the seasons, the seven year apple (Casasia clusiifolia) is a native plant that really shines during the summer. It’s at this time that fragrant, tubular white flowers pop open to delight everyone who happens by the plant, including butterflies and moths who sip on the nectar found inside. 

“A rounded shrub or small tree adapted to back dunes of the beachfront, the seven year apple’s large shiny leaves lend a tropical feeling to any garden,” said SCCF Adult Education Director Jenny Evans. “When combined with its drought and salt tolerance, it’s a plant that is irreplaceable in a coastal landscape.”

Learn more about or purchase native plants like the seven year apple at the Native Landscapes and Garden Center, open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.