Lilac-Flowered 'Golden Dewdrop' Duranta:

The 2006 State Texas SuperStar Plant

1 It must be attractive and useful to the gardening masses rather than a special few who devote themselves to one specific plant type. It is described in Ornamental Plants for the Rio Grande Valley as: "Very desirable." (Verbenaceae) a large, evergreen shrub that produces graceful, drooping branches, a few thorns, bright green ovate leaves and numerous small flowers throughout the year. Flowering is continuous in the tropics, but begins in late summer and continues through autumn in less tropical regions and is followed by numerous, small, golden "balls." The fruit is elongated spherical to teardrop shaped drupes; three-eights to one-half inch long. The fruits are initially green and then mature to a golden yellow to yellow-orange color. It can be commonly used as a summer annual for late season color or perhaps in patio containers. It will be a perennial planting in zone 9, along the coast or in deep South Texas in shrub borders. Duranta attracts birds which feed on the fruits and it is one of the few flowers that attract both hummingbirds and butterflies. Other great features of Durantas are their ability to tolerate sun or shade and their actual preference for heavy soils.

2 It must be unique and/or offer desirable and ornamental characteristics which are not usually available in commonly sold plants. Durantas, as described in Native Shrubs for South Florida at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/EH159, have a mature natural height of 12-15 feet, a growth rate of medium, a wide soil pH range (does well in acid or alkaline), a hardiness zone from subtropical to tropical, and they require a medium to high light exposure. They have a medium salt tolerance and drought tolerance, low nutritional levels, but need well drained soil. The plants can become chlorotic in poor fertility sites.

3 It must consistently perform well for Texas consumers regardless of their plant growing expertise and their growing location. Because of the harsh and changeable climate in Texas we sometimes use perennials as annuals and woody plants as perennials. For instance, Vitex is considered a small tree but in North Texas, it freezes to the ground and it a root-hardy perennial. In places where it does not freeze to the ground, the Texas SuperStar growing scheme recommends it be cut to the ground every spring and grown as a multi-trunk shrub. This enables the easy removal of seed stalks. We also like to find and recommend root-hardy tropical plants as perennials, or even annuals, in some parts of the state. For instance, Duranta is hardy as a subtropical shrub or tree in USDA zones 10 and 11, and develops into an irregular spreading large shrub or small tree 15 to 20 feet tall. In zone 9 it serves as a 6 to 8 foot tall summer annual, herbaceous perennial or dieback shrub, depending upon the severity of winter temperatures. In zones 8 and colder, it is used as a summer annual. This is the case with other SuperStar plants such as Firebush (1990 - Hamelia patens); 'Goldstar' Esperanza (1999 - Tecoma stans); Plumbago (2005- Plumbago auriculata (P. capenis); and 'Texas Lilac' Vitex (2005 - Vitex agnus-castus).

4 It must be as pest resistant as possible. An added bonus is for it to be a deer non-preference plant. Durantas are somewhat resistant to disease and insect attack but scale insects, caterpillars, and nematodes can be occasional pests. In some literature, Duranta is described as having poisonous fruit containing hydrocyanic acid. When put in an area densely populated with deer, all plants were eaten within three days with the berries being eaten first. No animals were killed, the meat presumably was not tainted, and the deer supposedly were worm-free for several months thereafter.

5 It must be able to be propagated and mass-produced in sufficient numbers to meet the increased consumer demand generated. It can be propagated by sowing the seed in the spring or from greenwood cuttings.

6 Most importantly, it must be so attractive in the sales container that it sells itself to the consumer who has never heard of the many attributes of the plant. Most cultivars of this species have a dark blue stripe in the center of each flower petal, but different selections may have darker or lighter flowers. Cutting-grown selections of this species include Duranta erecta 'Sky Blue', which has light blue flowers and a dense, compact habit; and Duranta erecta 'Royal Blue', which has dark blue flowers and is also very compact. This species is by far the heaviest berry producer, which enhances its value as an ornamental and bird attraction.