Simpson's stopper
Myrcianthes fragrans
Fragrant white flowers, then sweet red berries the birds fight over.
Hardiness: zones 9 to 11
Light: full sun to part shade
Size: about 15 ft tall, 10 ft wide
Harvest: August to November
From: Florida and the Caribbean
Drought-hardy once established
Here: Too tender to overwinter outdoors on the Lake Erie shore (zone 6b to 7a): grow it in a pot and bring it in, or treat it as an annual.
Good for: food, pollinators, wildlife.
Native to: Southeast. Hardy in zones 9 to 11.
The story
Simpson's stopper is a Florida and Caribbean native whose bark was brewed as a remedy for diarrhea, hence stopper, and whose sweet red berries fed birds and people; it is named for Charles Torrey Simpson, the naturalist who defended the Everglades.
Planting
Full sun or part shade, any drained soil, salt and drought; frost to the mid-20s. Plant in spring; evergreen, 15 feet or a clipped hedge.
Growing
Water the first year, then nothing. Clip after fruiting. It flowers and fruits several times a year.
Harvest and use
Berries ripen orange-red through the year; sweet, mild, with a hint of citrus. Eat fresh.
What to watch for
Nothing of note.
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More native and wild plants
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home