Simpson's Stopper is an excellent small tree that is native to Florida. It can also be used as a nice, dense hedge. Simpson's Stopper is low maintenance, drought tolerant and salt tolerant. The canopy tends to be slightly narrow but is dense. Simpson's Stopper has attractive exfoliating bark, fragrant leaves and small white flowers that are also fragrant.
How to care for Simpson Stopper
Light. Full sun to partial shade. In full sun it grows dense, good for a hedge; in shade it is more open and shows off the flaking reddish bark.
Water. For the first four years, watch young plants for drought stress during long dry spells. Once established it needs little or no extra water.
Soil and feeding. It handles sandy, limestone and alkaline soils and tolerates some salty wind, though not direct salt spray.
Size. Grows slowly, about 1 ft a year, to about 12 ft. In Florida it can eventually reach 20 ft.
Pruning. It takes severe pruning, so it works as a hedge, topiary or small tree. Frequent trimming reduces flowers and berries.
Problems to watch. Few pests. Stressed plants occasionally get guava rust, rusty spores on new growth that cause dieback; treat with a fungicide labeled for it.
Good to know. A Florida native listed as threatened, so buy nursery-grown plants. Bees and butterflies visit the fragrant flowers, and birds eat the berries.
Sources: UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: Simpson's Stopper · Florida Native Plant Society Plant Database: Myrcianthes fragrans
