Rivina Species, Baby Pepper, Bloodberry, Coral Berry, Pigeon Berry, Rouge Plant

An excellent plant, I put it under my mulberry trees in the garden where we want to attract the birds, I find that the cardinals love to ...Read Moresteal the mulberries and the finches love to steal the pigeon berries this is all very exciting watching the wildlife from behind my window not disturbing them, my window into there world :-) I have plenty of seeds to share, offer me something, almost anything and I will pick and clean them for you.

There is a great history to this Florida native. In addition to its pollinator attraction, it is said that the Rouge Plant was used by wo...Read Moremen to color their cheeks - thus the common name. I've tried it and it works fine, not a stain, just color that washes off. Things were much simpler on the prairie.

This plant holds a nice domed shape while it flowers and fruits continuously and simultaneously all summer long. In Central Florida it is subject to any freezes but it comes back every spring. It self-propagates from seeds that germinate near the mother plant. Very controllable and shareable.

No experience growing it yet, but purchased one today at Growers' Outlet in Willis. They have a nice selection of very vigorous pigeonberry plants.

I live south of Houston in Friendswood between and Galveston. I planted Pigeonberry two summers ago in the dead heat. It is interplant...Read Moreed with Spegelia under a large lobolly pine getting part sun during the day. It is doing great- what a wonderful ground cover. I love the winter when it turns a love maroonish purple. It is very tolerant of our climate when we have too much or not enough water. The seeds can be directly sown into the ground. A+

So far so good. I planted this under my 150' pines and a smaller Am Elm and it is spreading slowly and looking very nice in front of the...Read More taller gingers. The variegated foliage is attractive in the semi-shade. I have Hosta "So Sweet" in front. It's still filling in but so far it has managed to make it through our August. (We have two seasons, August and the rest of the year.) And there has been a great deal of rain and it's not rotting. I like that in a plant!

San Antonio. TX
A native Texas plant, it is an excellent groundcover for shady areas growing 10 to 18 inches tall. The wavy margin...Read Moreed leaves are one to three inches long. The pink to white blooms are on the tip of a spike measuring one to two inches in length with the base of the spike producing orange, red or purple berries from spring to fall. Blooms and berries are present at the same time. The fruit yields a red dye. If you live in a coastal area, note that it tolerates a lot of salt spray and salty soil. Some sources state that it is invasive.

I have given it a neutral rating because I have not grown it myself. I have seen it growing in many locations in my zone.

Update: Changed rating to positive. I planted 3 of the plants last summer when I finally located some. They were a little spindly at the end of the fall. Now (6/8/05), they have taken off and are filling out with lots of blooms and berries. The foliage is very nice green that stands out in the shade. 12/06 - The foliage has turned to beautiful purplish-red color which adds fall interest.