Golden Dewdrop - Duranta repens (Duranta erecta) (Duranta plumieri) - family: Verbenaceae (Vervain Family).

[Etymology: golden Middle English gilden, Old English gylden, gold(en); gold Middle English gold, Old English gold, gold, to gleam, to shine, + -en, suffix + dew Middle English deu, de(a)w, dew, Old English deau, compare: Old Frisian daw, Old High German tou, dew, Greek thein, to run + drop Middle English drope, Old English dropa, compare: Old Norse drupa, droop, so named for the appearance of its fruits].

This is an evergreen shrub that may grow to about twenty feet high. It has oval-to-elliptic-shaped toothed glossy green leaves. It has sharp spines on its branches. In the spring and summer it produces hanging clusters (racemes) of small tubular bluish flowers that are followed by small round toxic yellow fruits. Each fruit contains several seeds. Note: fruits are extremely toxic: do not eat. Propagated by seed and semi-ripe cuttings. Prefers full sun. Native to southern Florida, the Caribbean area, Mexico and Central America to Brazil. Best cultivated in USDA hardiness zones 9-11 in North America. Several cultivars exist. Makes a nice protective hedge.

Other names: Pigeon Berry, Sky Flower.

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