Duranta Species, Golden Dew Drop, Pigeon Berry, Sky Flower 'Sweet Memories'

Durantaerecta

Family
Verbenaceae (ver-be-NAY-see-ee)
Genus
Duranta (door-AN-tuh)
Species
erecta (ee-RECK-tuh)
Synonym
Duranta repens
Duranta plumieri
Duranta ellisia
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Foliage
Smooth
Height
12-15 ft. (3.6-4.7 m)
15-20 ft. (4.7-6 m)
Spacing
4-6 ft. (1.2-1.8 m)
Hardiness
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)
Danger
Parts of plant are poisonous if ingested
Plant has spines or sharp edges; use extreme caution when handling
Bloom Color
Medium Purple
Bloom Time
Late Summer/Early Fall
Blooms repeatedly
Other Details
Category
Shrubs
Tropicals and Tender Perennials
Water Requirements
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Foliage Color
Where to Grow
Grow outdoors year-round in hardiness zone
Can be grown as an annual
Suitable for growing in containers
Bloom Characteristics
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Bloom Size
Other details
Soil pH requirements
5.6 to 6.0 (acidic)
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
Patent Information
Non-patented
Propagation Methods
From leaf cuttings
From woody stem cuttings
From softwood cuttings
From semi-hardwood cuttings
From seed; winter sow in vented containers, coldframe or unheated greenhouse
From seed; direct sow after last frost
Seed Collecting
Remove fleshy coating on seeds before storing
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

Mesa, Arizona

Queen Creek, Arizona

Scottsdale, Arizona

Tucson, Arizona

Carlsbad, California

Garden Grove, California

Highgrove, California

La Canada Flintridge, California

Mission Viejo, California

Rancho Cordova, California

Redlands, California

San Jose, California

San Leandro, California

San Marcos, California

Simi Valley, California

Studio City, California

Vista, California

Boca Raton, Florida

Cape Coral, Florida

Delray Beach, Florida

Deltona, Florida

Dunnellon, Florida

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Gainesville, Florida

Jacksonville, Florida

Maitland, Florida

Melbourne, Florida

Merritt Island, Florida

Miami, Florida

New Port Richey, Florida

Ocoee, Florida

Oldsmar, Florida(2 reports)

Palm Harbor, Florida(2 reports)

Panama City Beach, Florida

Saint Petersburg, Florida

Tampa, Florida

Titusville, Florida

Yulee, Florida

Zephyrhills, Florida

Jennings, Louisiana

Lafayette, Louisiana

Metairie, Louisiana

New Iberia, Louisiana

West Monroe, Louisiana

Blackstone, Massachusetts

Carriere, Mississippi

Saucier, Mississippi

Springfield, Missouri

Las Vegas, Nevada

Elizabeth City, North Carolina

Austin, Texas

Beaumont, Texas

Bedias, Texas

Bellville, Texas

Cedar Park, Texas

Desoto, Texas

Ferris, Texas

Floresville, Texas

Fort Worth, Texas

Galveston, Texas

Hallettsville, Texas

Houston, Texas(6 reports)

La Vernia, Texas

Midland, Texas

Midway, Texas

Montgomery, Texas

New Braunfels, Texas

Port Neches, Texas

Portland, Texas

Richmond, Texas

Round Rock, Texas

San Antonio, Texas

San Benito, Texas

Santa Fe, Texas

Spring Branch, Texas

Sugar Land, Texas

Texas City, Texas

Victoria, Texas

Willis, Texas

Winnsboro, Texas

show all

Featured Videos

Gardener's Notes:

13
positives
2
neutrals
0
negative
Sort By:
Sort By:
T
Steinhatchee, FL | May 2019 | positive

I love this tree and the hummingbirds and butterflies that visit it daily . I live in North Fl and it can get cold here, but it did reall...Read More

L
Gilbert, AZ | April 2017 | positive

I have this plant in my back yard near the porch pillar. Here in AZ it blooms almost all the time. Have to prune it aften to keep down to...Read More

V
(Zone 8a) | November 2016 | positive

Plan its location carefully as this plant gets big. Mine is over 6 ft tall. I have posted a picture of my tree showing how I have corra...Read More

C
ROSLINDALE, MA | August 2016 | neutral

Synonym: Duranta erecta 'Geisha Girl'

K
Highgrove, CA | July 2016 | positive

We live in zone 9 of southern CA and we are always looming for plants that can tolerate plenty of direct sun for our patio.

...Read More

O
Springfield, MO (Zone 6b) | November 2014 | positive

I received my Duranta erecta 'Sweet Memories' as a gift about 5 years ago and it's one of the most beautiful plants I've ever grown. It'...Read More

F
Oldsmar, FL (Zone 10b) | August 2013 | positive

Love love love this plant. Very hardy...I have to trim constantly to keep it in line, but beautiful. Can become shaggy, wild and trailing...Read More

D
Blackstone, MA | July 2012 | positive

I'm from Blackstone, MA and bought this plant at a nursery July 2011. It bloomed profusely. I never took it out of the pot and received...Read More

C
Clark, MO | June 2012 | neutral

I chose neutral only because I just bought this plant and I do not know it will grow in my zone and I need advice on what I can do so it ...Read More

P
Casas Adobes, AZ | October 2011 | positive

I bought two of these plants at the garden center. They were half dead and "half off" the price. I took them home, which is Tucson, AZ, a...Read More

D
New Iberia, LA | April 2010 | positive

I saw this plant with bunch of purple flowers at our local Lowe's, sniffed on the flower and fell in love with the lavender-ish fragrant,...Read More

M
Yulee, FL (Zone 9a) | October 2009 | positive

I bought a little one three years ago. Each winter it dies back after a freeze. When it emerges in the spring and gets about three feet h...Read More

F
Palm Harbor, FL (Zone 9b) | July 2007 | positive

This plant flowers almost all year, and has been disease free for me. We never had hummers here until we planted this. The hummingbirds a...Read More

J
Willis, TX (Zone 8b) | August 2004 | positive

I have the Duranta Erecta "Sweet Memories" and it is very scented..smells like Chocolate and bees and hummers love it..grows like crazy i...Read More

R
Galveston, TX | June 2004 | positive

This is one of my all time favorite plants! I planted one 2 years ago in one of my beds and it has gone wild. If i had not trimmed it t...Read More

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