Torchwood
Amyris elemifera
Torchwood is native from Central to South Florida and the Keys along the East Coast. This is a Citrus relative and a larval food for both the giant swallowtail butterfly and the Schaus’ swallowtail butterfly. The latter is found in the Florida Keys.
The pea sized edible black berry has one seed and is a good source of food for birds in January and February. It can tolerate light frost and drought once established and some salt air if protected by other coastal vegetation. The new trifoliate leaves are reddish, turning dark green and glossy at maturity.
Torchwood makes a great, free standing specimen in the front yard or can be mixed with other coastal shrubs. It goes well with Lignum Vitae, Bahama Strongback, Myrtle of the River, Spicewood, Gumbo Limbo or most hammock species. It needs full sun to light shade to grow. Quailberry, Beach Creeper and Coontie make beautiful ground covers that will show off Torchwood.
Whitefly and other scale insects can be a problem and may require organic insecticides to control. The white Sri Lanka Weevil will notch the leaves and the wood is very brittle. The clusters of fragrant white flowers and black pea sized berries make this a colorful addition to the landscape.