Gondwanaland Trading Company
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Saphire Showers

(Duranta erecta)
Duranta erecta

Duranta erecta 'Sapphire Showers' (Picotee Sky Flower) - Grown for its summer flower and ornamental fruit, this selection of the popular Pigeon berry may prove more compact than the species, which grows with an arching habit to 25 feet tall and nearly as wide - grown as a tree it is more upright in habit with spread about half of width. In late spring and summer, cascading clusters of 3/4 inch wide tubular flowers are an intense violet-blue with a white picotee edge along the flared petal tips. As with the species the flowers are followed by wonderfully contrasting orange-yellow berries. In mild climates this plant can be in flower nearly year round with flowers and fruit appearing at the same time. Besides its more compact nature, 'Sapphire Showers seems to be lacking the long spines that are occasionally found arising from the leaf axils on typical Duranta erecta plants. It does best in full sun with frequent deep watering and is hardy to about 20-25 ° F. A good choice for espaliers, as a small tree or large bush; all forms benefit from frequent selective pruning. Flowers are very attractive to butterflies. Duranta erecta, long grown as D. repens is native to the new world from Florida, the Caribbean south to Brazil and has many common names, including golden dewdrop, pigeon-berry and sky-flower. The attractive fruits and the foliage have saponins that are poisonous to humans.

Saphire Showers

Saphire Showers

$24.99
Saphire Showers

Saphire Showers

$24.99