Eugenia Species, Red Stopper, Myrtle Wood

I'm surprised how cold tolerant this plant was during last winter. It tolerated at least 29 deg in its pot.
Many 'endangered plant...Read Mores' in Florida are not the least endangered in other parts of its range. This plant is native to Cuba, Hispanola, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Panama and the NW parts of South America.
Unless DNA analysis shows this Florida stopper to be unique, it should be removed from the endangered species list. If anything, this classification is making people afraid to try to cultivate it. It makes a wonderful landscape plant!!!

This is a shrub to small or medium tree that is a member of the Myrtle (Stopper) family, Myrtaceae. It is native to the tropical hardwood...Read More hammocks and coastal dry sunny sites of southern Florida (Miami-Dade County) and the Keys. It grows in full sun to partial, light, or medium shade. It may possibly tolerate some deeper shade. Red Stopper also grows in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

It has small to medium, white flowers, in small clusters. The leaves are usually somewhat small, oval in shape, and pointed.

Red Stopper is listed as endangered by the state of Florida due to habitat destruction.

It is a great plant for attractibg wildlife. Many birds enjoy the shade and foilage of this plant, as well as other wildlufe. The flowers and berries may attract pollinating insects and wildlife too.