Duranta erecta: Country Or Region Of Origin
South U.S.A. to Tropical America
Plant Profile: Duranta erecta
Taxonomy: Duranta erectaNames
Pigeon Berry
Phonetic Spelling:door-AN-tuh ee-RECK-tuh
Genus:Duranta
Species:erecta
Family:Verbenaceae
Pigeon Berry is an attractive plant, yet it poses significant risks if ingested by children or pets. This species is originally from Florida and South America. In temperate regions, it typically grows as either an annual or a houseplant. It thrives in loose, well-drained soil and requires a sunny spot for optimal growth. During spring, it produces clusters of flowers that range in color from blue to violet, with white edges. Additionally, mature specimens develop thorns.
Duranta erecta Feature Summary
Tags
#hummingbirds
#evergreen
#poisonous
#salt tolerant
#vibrant
#not pet friendly
#exotic looking
#bright color
#butterfly friendly
#problem for children
Similar Plants
Duranta erecta Feature Summary
Attributes
South U.S.A. to Tropical America
Perennial
Fruit
0.5 in. yellow drupes in late summer to fall hang in long, trailing clusters.
Drupe
Gold/Yellow
Summer
Fall
< 1 inch
Flowers
Blue to violet flowers. possibly with white edging on 6 in. racemes on new growth.
White
Blue
Raceme
Spring
Tubular
Leaves
3 inch long lustrous, medium to dark green leaves.
Broadleaf Evergreen
Green
Simple
Opposite
Ovate
Dentate
1-3 inches
Bark
light brown and slightly furrowed.
Light Brown
Poisonous to Humans
If eaten this plant has been known to kill children, pets, and animals
Unknown
High
Leaves
Fruits
Whole Plant Traits
Shrub
Broadleaf Evergreen
Erect
Spreading
Thorns
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
9a
9b
10a
10b
11a
11b
Stem
Landscape
Container
Houseplants
Butterflies
Hummingbirds
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Children
Duranta erecta Image Gallery
Duranta erecta Attributes
Duranta erecta: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Duranta erecta Fruit
Duranta erecta: Fruit Description
0.5 in. yellow drupes in late summer to fall hang in long, trailing clusters.
Duranta erecta: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Duranta erecta: Fruit Color
Gold/Yellow
Duranta erecta: Fruit Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Duranta erecta: Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Duranta erecta: Fruit Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Duranta erecta Flowers
Duranta erecta: Flower Description
Blue to violet flowers. possibly with white edging on 6 in. racemes on new growth.
Duranta erecta: Flower Color
Blue
White
Duranta erecta: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Duranta erecta: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Duranta erecta: Flower Shape
Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel
Duranta erecta Leaves
Duranta erecta: Leaf Description
3 inch long lustrous, medium to dark green leaves.
Duranta erecta: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Duranta erecta: Leaf Color
Green
Duranta erecta: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Duranta erecta: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Duranta erecta: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Duranta erecta: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Duranta erecta: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Duranta erecta: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Duranta erecta Bark
Duranta erecta: Bark Description
light brown and slightly furrowed.
Duranta erecta: Bark Color
Light Brown
Duranta erecta Poisonous to Humans
Duranta erecta: Poison Symptoms
If eaten this plant has been known to kill children, pets, and animals
Duranta erecta: Poison Toxic Principle
Unknown
Duranta erecta: Poison Severity
High
Low
Medium
Duranta erecta: Causes Contact Dermatitis
No
Yes
Duranta erecta: Poison Part
Bark
Flowers
Fruits
Leaves
Roots
Sap/Juice
Seeds
Stems
Duranta erecta Whole Plant Traits
Duranta erecta: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Duranta erecta: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Duranta erecta: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Duranta erecta: Appendage
Prickles
Spines
Tendrils
Thorns
Duranta erecta Cultural Conditions
Duranta erecta: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Duranta erecta: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
10a
10b
11a
11b
9a
9b
Duranta erecta Stem
Duranta erecta: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Duranta erecta Landscape
Duranta erecta: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Duranta erecta: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
Duranta erecta: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
Duranta erecta: Problems
Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy
