It's time to read and vote for your favorite article in the 2013 Write-Off Contest! The four finalist's articles are featured in the May 13 newsletter and can be found through this link. Hurry! Voting ends May 18.
You've found the famous Dave's Garden website! Join this friendly global community that shares tips and ideas for home and gardens, along with seeds and plants!
Check out the DG homepage for a brief overview of what you'll find in this gardening mega-site.
Login
If you don't have an account yet, visit the registration page to sign up.
Category: Edible Fruits and Nuts Shrubs Trees Tropicals and Tender Perennials
Height: 10-12 ft. (3-3.6 m) 12-15 ft. (3.6-4.7 m)
Spacing: 36-48 in. (90-120 cm) 4-6 ft. (1.2-1.8 m)
Hardiness: USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F) USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F) USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)
Sun Exposure: Full Sun Sun to Partial Shade Light Shade
Danger: All parts of plant are poisonous if ingested
Bloom Color: Pale Pink White/Near White Inconspicuous/none
Bloom Time: Blooms all year
Foliage: Evergreen Bronze-Green Smooth-Textured
Other details: This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds Flowers are fragrant Requires consistently moist soil; do not let dry out between waterings
Soil pH requirements: 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic) 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral) 7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information: Non-patented
Propagation Methods: From seed; direct sow after last frost
Seed Collecting: Allow unblemished fruit to ripen; clean and dry seeds
On Nov 24, 2008, fauna4flora from West Palm Beach, FL wrote:
This plant is called "Marlberry" because it thrives in marl soil, which is a particular kind of clay soil that is very alkaline and comes from the shell based south Florida soils.
On Aug 4, 2004, xyris from Sebring, FL (Zone 9b) wrote:
Marlberry is a great native shrub even in interior central Florida, north to about Kissimmee. It naturally occurs in the interior of dense, shady hardwood hammocks, under a canopy usually of mostly live oak and cabbage palmetto, and is often common in the shrub layer of these with Psychotria nervosa, Psychotria sulzneri, and Callicarpa americana, among others. A good place to see lots of it in central Florida is Highlands Hammock State Park.
On Aug 3, 2004, NativePlantFan9 from Boca Raton, FL (Zone 10a) wrote:
Marlberry is a shrub native to the tropical hardwood hammocks of coastal central and southern Florida south through the Keys, in zones 9b, 10a, 10b, 11 and below. It is also abundant in the Everglades on tree islands in dark mesic hammocks and tropical hardwood hammocks as well, in Everglades National Park. It is an excellent native plant that provides food with it's blackish-reddish to purple berries and possibly some shelter for wildlife. I see these plants in my area growing in parks by the beach, in hammocks on the barrier islands. They are about moderately to somewhat highly salt-tolerant and often grow up the back slope of the dune sometimes to the top where the sea grapes grow, as well as around mangrove swamps near the Intracoastal Waterway and saltwater lagoons. However, it can also be planted inland on the mainland, which I have seen around some homes and buildings, often mixed with other native plants that provide food and shelter for wildlife, such as the Saw Palmetto, Wild Coffee, and Live Oak. They have a very attractive, lush green foilage. They can also grow up to about 10 feet tall! I'd give this plant a big thumbs-up for a native plant garden!
UPDATE/MORE FACTS - The common name "Marlberry" is a mix-up of the previous name of the plant, "Marbleberry". The berries are blackish-purple and are eaten by wildlife and birds but are also edible for people to eat.
Regional...
This plant has been said to grow in the following regions:
3 members have or want this plant for trade.
