• Photo by: Roger Hammer, Dade Chapter FNPS

Pithecellobium keyense

Florida Keys blackbead

Nomenclature

Common Name:

Florida Keys blackbead

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Pithecellobium keyense

Family:

Fabaceae (Leguminosae)

Plant Specifics

Form:

shrub

Size:

to 8 ft

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white,orange,pink

Fruit Color:

brown - red and black arils

Phenology:

Evergreen. Blooms winter-spring. Fruits mature in summer.

Noted For:

Showy Flowers

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Screen or hedge plant. Informal foundation shrub. Blooms profusely in late fall. Fruits are contorted and split open to reveal red seeds.

Considerations:

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Availability:

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Propagation:

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Light:

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Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded---------------------------------Extremely Dry

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Not wet but not extremely dry -to- Very long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Moderate. Tolerant of salty wind and may get some salt spray.

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Lime Rock

Soil pH:

Calcareous (high pH)

Suitable to Grow In:

10A,10B,11

Ecology

Wildlife:

Butterflies, Caterpillars, Birds



  • Larval host  for cassius blue ( Leptotes cassius theonus ), large orange sulphur ( Phoebis agarithe ), and Miami blue ( Cyclargus thomasi bethunebakeri ) butterflies. 


  • Nectar plant for cassius blue, Florida duskywing ( Ephyriades brunneus ), Florida white ( Appias drusilla ), giant swallowtail ( Papilio cresphontes ), great southern white ( Ascia monuste ), hammock skipper ( Polygonus leo ), large orange sulphur, mangrove skipper ( Phocides pigmalion ), Miami blue, Palatka skipper ( Euphyes pilatka ), southern broken-dash ( Wallengrenia otho ), three-spotted skipper ( Cymaenes tripunctus ), twin-spot skipper ( Oligorio maculata ) and other butterflies.  ( IRC )


Birds eat the fruits and the red&black arils.

Native Habitats:

Tropical/coastal hammock edges, dunes, fields. Dry sites.

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

Listed as Threatened by the State of Florida.  Please acqure from reputable sources.