Little Strongbark
A small shrub that seems to always be in bloom, and the butterflies know it. Underused and deserving better.
Bourreria cassinifolia
A small, refined native that's basically a butterfly magnet. Conservation note: listed as Endangered in Florida. Please buy only nursery-propagated plants from a reputable native source, never collected from the wild.
Why it works here
Note: Florida endemic, meaning it grows wild only here and in the West Indies
If you want a compact native that pulls in pollinators all season, this is a gem. It stays small enough for a courtyard or a foundation bed, throws clean white flowers spring through fall, and follows them with little orange fruits the birds take. Bees, sulphurs, zebra longwings, Julias, skippers, hummingbirds, and sphinx moths all work it. Planting a nursery-grown one is also a small conservation win, since it's endangered in the wild.
Care
Keep the soil usually moist while it settles in, then it handles short dry stretches. It's happiest in our limestone-influenced, high-pH sandy soils, so it fits the Treasure Coast well. Feed it lightly with compost and keep a mulch ring to steady the moisture. It's naturally tidy and needs little pruning, just a light shaping if you want it denser.
Common problems
Basically an easy, trouble-free little shrub when it's sited right. Its real limits are cold and salt: it wants a warm, protected spot and won't take coastal salt spray. Give it too much shade and bloom drops off, so keep it in good light for the flower show. Otherwise pests are minor here.
Common questions
Is it really endangered, and is it okay to plant one?
It's endangered in the wild in Florida, but planting a nursery-propagated one is a good thing. Just make sure your source grew it, didn't dig it from the wild.
How big will it get?
Small, around 5 to 7 ft, which is exactly why I like it for tight spots and courtyards where a bigger shrub would swallow the space.
What will it bring to my yard?
Butterflies and bees, constantly. It's one of the better small natives for pollinators, plus birds for the little orange fruits.
Interested in a little strongbark in your landscape?
We plan, install, and care for it. Start with a paid consultation.