Ceratiola ericoides
Florida rosemary
Southeastern United States coastal plain
Overview
Ceratiola ericoides is an evergreen shrub 2-7 feet (0.6-2 m) tall with a rounded, densely branched form and aromatic foliage. The needle-like leaves are about 0.2-0.4 inch (5-10 mm) long, grooved beneath, and crowded in whorls along the stems, giving the plant a heath- or rosemary-like look. It is dioecious, with separate male and female plants; tiny reddish to yellow flowers without petals form in the leaf axils, mainly from autumn into spring. Female plants bear small rounded yellow-green to reddish fruits about 0.1 inch (2-3 mm) wide, each holding two seeds. The plant grows on deep, well-drained white sands of Florida scrub and sandhill, where it withstands intense heat, drought, and nutrient-poor soil. Its leaves release compounds that suppress the germination of nearby plants, leaving bare sand around established shrubs. Growth is slow, and seedlings establish mainly after fire opens the canopy. It does not tolerate shade, rich soils, or wet ground, and it is difficult to transplant because of its deep root system.
Native Range
Ceratiola ericoides is native to the southeastern United States, on the coastal plain from South Carolina and Georgia through Florida and west to Mississippi. It grows in xeric scrub, sandhills, and coastal dunes on deep, well-drained sands.Suggested Uses
Used in native scrub restoration and xeric, sand-based landscapes in its range. Planted on dry, infertile sandy sites where little else grows and as habitat for scrub wildlife. Suited to conservation and naturalized plantings rather than irrigated gardens.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height2' - 7'
Width/Spread2' - 6'
Reaches mature size in approximately 8 years
Colors
Bloom Information
Tiny petal-less flowers, reddish to yellow, form in the leaf axils mainly from autumn through early spring. The plant is wind-pollinated, with male and female flowers on separate shrubs. Female plants ripen small two-seeded fruits that drop near the parent through spring and summer.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
reddish to yellowFoliage Description
green to grey-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight