Chrysobalanus
family.
Blooms from March through August.
An evergreen
shrub that grows to one foot tall or more. Has reddish-brown
stems with oblong leaves that are leathery and alternate. Clusters
of small, creamy white flowers occur at the top of the shrub.
Fruit turns from green to purplish when ripe and is a popular
food source for gopher tortoises.
This shrub spreads by underground
stems and is occasionally grown as ground cover because of
its shiny, evergreen foliage.
Gopher Apple is found in southeastern states. |