| Duranta erecta is a fast growing shrub that | | | | time as the tiny, orange berries, which hang down |
| reaches about 4-5 meters (20-25ft). With | | | | in panicles. The violet and orange together, makes |
| consistent pruning, it can be kept to lesser | | | | for an unusual but attractive combination. There |
| dimensions and so is suitable for small as well as | | | | seems to be some confusion as to whether the |
| larger gardens. Although originating from | | | | berries are poisonous or not. |
| sub-tropical North America and Mexico, it is also | | | | The medium leaf texture means that Duranta |
| suitable for those Mediterranean climates that do | | | | erecta associates well with trees and shrubs that |
| not experience winter frosts. It is known by a | | | | have similar foliage. It therefore goes well with the |
| variety of common names such as Sky Flower, | | | | usual Mediterranean type plants like Pistachio, |
| Golden Dew Drop, and Pigeon Berry. | | | | Olive, Pomegranate, and Sumac, but less |
| There are a number of varieties belonging to the | | | | successfully in my opinion with the course leaves |
| species, possessing a plethora of names, which | | | | and large flowers common to plants like Hibiscus. |
| seem to differ from place to place. They are all | | | | A quite stunning effect can be created by |
| similar to each other however, and this makes it | | | | combining the golden-leaved Durantas with |
| possible to grow different plants together, | | | | grey-leaved shrubs like Leocophyllum, or with |
| thereby creating a subtle variation on a theme. | | | | deep, purple-leaved bushes such as Cotinus. |
| In a number of small but significant ways, Duranta | | | | In most garden situations, Duranta needs regular |
| erecta has landscaping features that are almost | | | | pruning and trimming to maintain bushy, compact |
| unique to the species. From my experience, the | | | | growth. Care must be taken however, not to |
| shades of green are unmatched in the gardening | | | | remove all the flower buds at the same time. |
| world. The most common types possessing | | | | With a little bit of sensitivity and common sense, |
| foliage of a very special medium hue, while some | | | | this is not too hard to achieve, as the plant |
| have lovely gold colored leaves. | | | | flowers so profusely through the summer. |
| They all have gorgeous, violet-blue flowers that | | | | Alternatively, it can be limbed up as a small tree. |
| though individually small, grow in a mass, creating | | | | To grow it on a single trunk is rather difficult, as |
| a powerful effect. There is often though, | | | | the plant grows so rapidly, but it can easily be |
| considerable variation in this regard within the | | | | turned into a multiple-stemmed tree. |
| species. The blooms also appear at the same | | | | |