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Meet the Natives: Christmas Berry
This week, we are highlighting another salt-tolerant shrub: the Christmas berry or Christmasberry (Lycium carolinianum). Christmas berry gets its name from the bright red berries it produces in December.
This evergreen shrub is found throughout Florida’s coastal areas. It grows naturally on the edges of saltmarsh and mangrove habitats, making it tolerant of both salt water flooding and salt spray.
“This is an adaptable shrub that is able to withstand a variety of conditions. However, it typically prefers full sun and moist soils with the ability to tolerate periods of occasional drought,” said SCCF Native Landscapes & Garden Center Assistant Sophie Carpenter. “If left in drought conditions for prolonged periods of time, Christmas berry will drop its leaves as a drought avoidance adaptation to conserve water.”
Christmas berry can grow to about 8 feet tall and about 3 to 5 feet wide. If left to spread, this shrub will form suckers at its base, but can be easily pruned for a neater appearance, Carpenter said.
It typically blooms in summer and fall, producing light purple flowers, followed by bright red berries.
“Christmas berry is a close relative to Goji Berry and is a member of the Solanaceae or nightshade Family — the same family as tomatoes and peppers,” Carpenter said. “The leaves are succulent, and the branches can have thorns — so wear gloves when planting or pruning.”
Christmas berry is an excellent addition to wildlife gardens. The berries feed a variety of birds and the nectar rich flowers attract many pollinator species including hummingbirds and the great southern white and Gulf fritillary butterflies.
Note: Although excellent for wildlife, Christmas berry can be toxic to dogs and other pets if ingested in high quantities.
Purchase Christmas berry at our Native Landscapes & Garden Center, open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday at 1300 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, FL.
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