Fetterbrush is a beautiful Florida native evergreen shrub with fragrant white/pink flowers that bloom Winter to Spring. It makes a beautiful hedge, growing to about 6 feet tall and 4 feet wide and can be pruned to maintain a certain size. It prefers full sun and moist soil as it grows naturally in wetlands.
How to care for Fetterbrush
Light. Plant in full sun. It also tolerates light shade.
Water. It grows naturally in flatwoods and on hummocks in swamps, so it takes moist soil and seasonal flooding. Plants in very dry soil can die in long droughts.
Soil and feeding. It needs acidic, sandy soil with some organic matter on top. Keep it away from concrete, where South Florida soil is most alkaline, and use Soil Acidifier following the label if the soil is alkaline.
Size. Usually 2–6 ft tall and about 4 ft wide. It spreads slowly into a clump.
Pruning. It takes pruning well and can be kept as a hedge. It is hard to transplant, so choose its spot carefully.
Good to know. A Florida native that flowers from late winter to early spring and draws bees. It has little tolerance for salt spray. It is reported to be toxic to many mammals, so keep pets from chewing it.
Sources: Florida Native Plant Society Plant Database: Lyonia lucida · Natives for Your Neighborhood (Institute for Regional Conservation): Lyonia lucida
