Golden dewdrop

The Golden dewdrop is a species of flowering shrub in the Verbena family, native from Mexico to South America and the Caribbean. It is also known as Pigeon berry and Sky flower. It is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant in tropical and subtropical gardens throughout the world, and has become naturalized in many places. It is considered an invasive species in Australia and China among other countries.

The Golden dewdrop is a slightly spiny, upright, sprawling, woody shrub. It can grow to 19' tall and equally wide. The oppositely grown leaves are yellow-green in color, waxy and ovate in shape. They can grow up to 3" long by 1.25" across. At the end of the spreading branches grow tight clusters of light-blue or lavender flowers which have 5 petals each with deep colored central veins. The fruit is bright yellow or orange and looks like small balls up to 1/2" across. Under the weight of the fruit, the branches gracefully droop. Within the berries are several seeds. The berries are poisonous to humans, but not to some birds.

Golden dewdrop flowers almost all year round. It is easy to care for.

Traditional Cultural and Medicinal Usages

• Berries have been used to treat intestinal worms in some traditions
• Hydrocyanic acid and saponin in berries make an effective mosquito repellant