​Duranta

( dew - RANT - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

This evergreen shrub needs full sun and regular water, and produces profuse shows of very attractive blue flowers that will attract butterflies to your garden in the summertime. Can be used as a screening plant that will grow quickly, though they need thinning and pruning continually to keep them under control. They are considered invasive in some areas of the world (namely Australia, China, South Africa, Fiji, Hawai'i and French Polynesia), but if you are willing to put in the work, these shrubs can be gorgeous additions to urban gardens. Take care when planting Duranta in your garden, as ingesting any part of the plant is toxic to humans as well as cats and dogs.

duranta Species and Varietals

Duranta is a genus of 17 species in the family Verbenaceae, and is native to South America, Florida and Mexico. The genus is named for 15th century botanist Castore Durante. Duranta growing zones vary by species. See the descriptions below for more information. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.
Duranta erecta (Duranta repens, Duranta plumieri) (Sky Flower, Golden Dewdrop, Pigeon Berry)
This shrub grows best in zones 13, 16, 17-24, H1 and H2. It is native to the West Indies, southern Florida, and Mexico to Brazil. Grows quickly to 10-25 feet tall and 6-10 feet wide. Forms multi-stemmed clumps and branches are drooping and vine-like. Violet-blue flowers. Varieties are outlined below.
'Alba'
White flowered variety. 
'Sweet Memory'
A thornless variety with flowers edged in white. 
'Geisha Girl'
Purple flowers edged in white.
'Sapphire Swirl'
Purple flowers edged in white. 
'Sapphire Showers'
Purple flowers edged in white.
'Gold Mound'
Has golden leaves and grows to 1.5 feet high and wide. Rarely produces flowers.

Duranta stenostachya (Brazilian Skyflower)
This shrub grows best in zones 13, 16, 21-24 and H2. A neater, more compact shrub than Duranta erecta, it grows to 4-6 feet tall and 3-5 feet wide. Spineless stems. Lavender blue flowers are larger than those of Duranta erecta, and fruit clusters grow to 1 foot long.

Caring for and pruning duranta shrubs

Plant Duranta in full sun in well-draining soil and keep soil moist, especially as the plant is establishing itself in your garden. They  prefer a soil with a pH level of between 5.6 and 7.5. These shrubs will die back to the ground each winter, especially if your area is prone to frosts. These plants will thrive without feedings, and are fast growers that will quickly take over whatever area they are planted in. Pruning is key to keep these plants contained; cut back severely in wintertime, and you will be rewarded with profuse spring foliage growth and flowering. They can be grown either in-ground or in a container. If growing Duranta in a pot, choose a pot that is at least 16 inches in diameter to begin with, and check yearly to see if it needs to be potted up.

Propagation

Duranta can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your plant, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Duranta by Cutting
  1. Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
  2. In summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
  3. Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
  4. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.

Propagating Duranta by Seed
  1. Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant, especially if you are dealing with a hybrid variety Duranta shrub. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
  2. Harvest your seeds. In fall, pick berries off of your plant, being careful to not touch them, as they are toxic if accidentally ingested. Remove the fleshy pulp and set them aside.
  3. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light and stays around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 30-60 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
  4. Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Duranta seeds.
Duranta seeds are contained inside the fruits produced by the shrub.

Problems and Pests

Whiteflies can be a problem with Duranta plants. For more information on how to eradicate this issue, see the following links:
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Gallery

The berries, though toxic to humans and pets, are loved by birds.
Duranta can be grown as a tree, shrub, or vine.
Grow Duranta near walkways or sitting areas, so that their blooms can be admired from close-up.

Videos

All about Duranta.
Tips and tricks for growing Duranta (Golden Dewdrops).
How to prune Duranta Plant.

Resources

How to Grow and Care for Duranta Plant (Golden Snowdrops)
Wikipedia: Duranta suberecta
Wikipedia: Duranta
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 294, Duranta
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or photos you’d like to add to the gallery, please let me know by sending me a message using the button below!
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