Bloodberry
Cordia globosa
Bloodberry or Butterfly Sage is found in lower Dade County and the Keys. This drought tolerant shrub is one of the best butterfly attractors for Palm Beach County and south and will last for many years.
Bloodberry is a member of the borage family and reaches a height and width of six feet on average in full sun. The leaves will burn if planted in a windy or seaside site. This is a very drought tolerant when established.
The small flowers are in a half inch cluster and have a sweet odor. These are followed by small, edible red berries that are eaten by birds as soon as they color up. Seedlings will appear around the yard from bird droppings and may need thinning. This is a great way to involve your neighbors in butterfly gardening, whether they want to or not.
Mix with Bauer Aster (Florida Keys Thoroughwort), Lantana involucrata (Wild Lantana), Firebush and Pineland Privet for a drought tolerant grouping that will really attract butterflies and birds. Key’s Porterweed makes a good groundcover in the front.
Amazingly, if Bloodberry is planted within a group of shrubs, it will climb like a vine to the top and then spread out to capture the sunlight.