1 / 2

Duranta spp.

golden dewdrops

Verbenaceae tropical and subtropical Americas

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Attracts Hummingbirds Drought Tolerant Fragrant (light)Container Friendly

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 9–11

Overview

Duranta spp. is a genus of about 17 to 30 species of evergreen shrubs and small trees in the verbena family (Verbenaceae), native to the tropical and subtropical Americas. Plants form arching, spreading mounds 6 to 18 feet (1.8 to 5.5 m) tall and 4 to 12 feet (1.2 to 3.7 m) wide, with slender, sometimes thorny branches that droop under their own weight. The oval leaves are green, with gold-leaved and variegated forms in cultivation, and some species carry spines in the leaf axils. Small tubular flowers, about 0.5 inch (12 mm) across, open in long, loose, drooping clusters in blue, purple, lavender, or white over a long season. The flowers are followed by hanging clusters of round, glossy, golden-yellow berries 0.3 to 0.5 inch (8 to 12 mm) wide, which give the plant its common name of golden dewdrop. The leaves and berries contain saponins and other compounds and are toxic to people and animals if eaten. Plants grow in full sun in warm, frost-free climates and tolerate heat, humidity, and drought once established, but they are killed or cut back by frost and can self-seed into a weed in tropical regions.

Native Range

Duranta spp. is native to the warm Americas, from Mexico, Florida, and the Caribbean through Central America into South America. D. erecta, the species most often grown, ranges naturally across Mexico, the Caribbean, and South America and has naturalized in warm regions worldwide.

Suggested Uses

Duranta spp. is used as a flowering hedge, screen, and specimen shrub in warm gardens, and gold-leaved forms are grown for foliage color. It is also grown as a container plant and a clipped standard. The toxic berries and frost sensitivity limit where it is planted near children, pets, and in cold-winter regions.

How to Identify

Identify Duranta spp. by its arching, drooping branches and its loose, hanging clusters of small tubular flowers in blue, purple, or white. The hanging clusters of round, glossy, golden-yellow berries often appear alongside the flowers and help separate the genus. Leaves are oval and green, and some forms carry small spines in the leaf axils.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6' - 18'

Width/Spread4' - 12'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~24 weeks

Spring Summer Fall

Duranta spp. blooms over a long season in warm climates, from spring through fall and nearly year-round in frost-free areas. The drooping flower clusters open in succession, so flowers and ripening golden berries are often present at the same time. Flowering slows in cool weather and stops where frost cuts the plant back.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

blue, purple, lavender, or white

Foliage Description

green; some cultivars gold or variegated

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

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

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand clay

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

2 to 4 years to flowering size

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Duranta spp. grows in full sun in warm, frost-free climates in moist, well-drained soil. Established plants tolerate heat, humidity, and short drought, and they bloom most heavily with steady warmth and regular water. Frost cuts the plants back or kills them, so in cooler zones they are grown in containers and overwintered indoors. The leaves and berries are toxic to people, pets, and livestock if eaten. Plants grow quickly and may need regular trimming to stay in bounds. In tropical regions the genus self-seeds readily and is treated as a weed in some areas.

Pruning

Duranta spp. is pruned in late winter or early spring to shape the plant and control its size, as it flowers on new growth. Hard pruning renews leggy, overgrown plants, and light trimming through the season keeps hedges dense. Frost-damaged stems are cut back to live wood once growth resumes.