Discover The Green Leaf Nursery's Beautiful Plants

 Simpson’s Stopper (Myrcianthes fragrans) is a versatile, Florida-native shrub or small tree that provides year-round interest. It is highly valued for its fragrant flowers, colorful fruit, and "clean" growth habit, making it a favorite for both native and formal landscapes.

• Appearance: Features small, glossy, deep green leaves that emit a pleasant nutmeg-like fragrance when crushed. The bark is particularly attractive, peeling away on older specimens to reveal a smooth, reddish-brown trunk.
• The Bloom: Clusters of small, white, "puffball" flowers appear primarily in spring and summer. They are highly aromatic and act as a magnet for honeybees and native pollinators.
• The Fruit: After blooming, the plant produces round, bright orange-to-red berries. These berries are edible (though somewhat bland or citrusy) and are a favorite food source for many Florida songbirds.
• Growth Habit: It can be maintained as a dense hedge at 5–8 feet or allowed to grow into a multi-trunked small tree reaching 15–20 feet.

• Sunlight: Thrives in full sun to partial shade. It produces more flowers and fruit in sunnier spots but maintains a deeper green foliage in the shade.
• Soil: Very adaptable to different soil types, including the alkaline soils common in parts of Florida. It prefers well-drained conditions.
• Watering: Once established, it is highly drought-tolerant. It can survive on rainfall alone in many parts of the state but looks lusher with occasional irrigation during dry spells.
• Hardiness: Best suited for USDA Zones 9–11. It is remarkably resilient but may show some leaf burn during rare hard freezes.

Type: Native Evergreen Shrub/Small Tree

Wildlife: Host to various pollinators; berries attract mockingbirds and cardinals.

Salt Tolerance: Moderate to High; handles coastal winds and some salt spray well.

Maintenance: Low; requires very little pruning unless being kept as a formal hedge