Duranta erecta

Known for its stunning sprays of violet-blue flowers and bright golden berries, Duranta erecta is a showy, fast-growing shrub that graces gardens, parks, and tropical landscapes around the world. Native to the Americas but now cultivated far beyond, this versatile plant is both decorative and functional, serving as a hedge, specimen, or cascading accent in hanging gardens.Despite its beauty, Duranta erecta also commands respect—it’s vigorous, potentially invasive in some regions, and its fruit is toxic to humans and pets. Still, with the right care and placement, it can be a garden centerpiece like no other.

Most commonly violet to blue, with a lighter or white edge; white varieties also exist.Small, tubular flowers with five rounded petals, forming elegant clusters.Spring through fall in warm climates, year-round in tropical zones.Light and pleasant, attracting butterflies and bees.Bright green, oval-shaped, sometimes with a slightly toothed edge.Dense, weeping or cascading branches that can be pruned into hedges or left to grow naturally.

Light shearing after each bloom cycle to encourage fresh flowers.Removal of suckers and water shoots from the base to maintain a strong structure.Left unpruned, it can become sprawling and even invasive in some warm regions like Florida, Hawaii, and parts of Australia. Always monitor and manage spread responsibly.Butterflies hummingbirds, bees.Some birds eat the berries, but caution is needed due to their toxicity.