PlantFiles: Dwarf Holly
Malpighia coccigera

This is a great little ( or maybe big in some cases ) plant and I've come to really like it even though I didn't really order it or buy it per se. This was an extra surprise plant I received from the guys at Glasshouse Works. They are always adding a couple surprises to my orders and they seem to know exactly what types of plants I like. This one has turned out to be a favourite now along with a Hoya fungii they also sent me as a surprise. This Malpighia looks very much like a holly of some type but it's not even closely related to the Ilex hollies. This plant grows in the same area as it's sister, the Barbados Cherry or Acerola ( Malpighia glabra, I believe ). It makes quite a lovely indoor/outdoor plant for those of us in the northern climes. It tunrs into a nice lower growing shrub with it's beautiful holly-like leaves and clusters of pinkish white flowers periodically. The flowers will create edible berries much like Barbados Cherries if they are pollinated. I keep mine inside in winter of course and it goes outside in the spring when it warms up and stays out there until late fall or whenever it starts to get too cold at night for it outside. The leaves are so glossy and pretty and the flowers and fruit are an added bonus if you self pollinate. I have mine in a smaller clay pot right now as it is still somewhat small but growing fast! It enjoys some full sun but not too much. Water it when the top of the soil seems dried out and fertilize maybe twice a year during the growing season. This plant will become an enduring friend and one you will appreciate very much. Especially if you get some of the fruit. Yum!

This is a very attractive plant, but it isn't a holly (Ilex) at all. It is very tender and must be protected from the cold in central Florida. It prefers a fertile soil and light shade.

A low growing small holly like plant with shiny toothed leaves and sporadic pinkish/white flowers throughout the year. This plant makes a beautiful bonsai and a good houseplant.