Pigeon berry (Duranta erecta 'Gold Mound')

Overview

Duranta erecta ‘Gold Mound’, commonly known as Pigeon berry, is a vibrant, low-growing cultivar prized for its exceptional chartreuse foliage that brightens shaded corners and full sun exposures alike. This selection provides a brilliant, compact contrast to deeper green plantings, making Duranta erecta ‘Gold Mound’ a standout choice for borders and containers. While it naturally forms a spreading shrub, gardeners in cooler climates utilize it as a colorful annual specimen or overwinter it indoors.

This variety blooms with delicate sprays of lavender-blue flowers throughout the season, often followed by attractive orange, berry-like drupes (though fruiting may vary based on climate and pruning). As a Broadleaf evergreen in its native, warmer zones, it offers consistent color, but its adaptability allows it to thrive even across USDA Zones 9 through 11.

The appeal of Pigeon berry lies in its manageable size, reaching only 2 to 4 feet tall, and its tolerance for a wide variety of soil types, provided drainage is adequate. Whether used to line a pathway or fill a patio container, integrating Duranta erecta ‘Gold Mound’ into your landscape ensures consistent visual interest.

Fast Facts

• Plant Family: Verbenaceae
• Plant Type: Broadleaf evergreen
• Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 9-11
• Size at Maturity:
  • Height: 2-4 ft
  • Spread: 3-5 ft
• Flower Time: Seasonal bloomer
• Bloom Description: Lavender-blue
• Sun Exposure: Full sun
• Water Needs: Medium
• Maintenance Level: Medium

How to Grow

For the best performance, plant Duranta erecta ‘Gold Mound’ when the danger of frost has passed in spring, favoring a location that receives full sun. This cultivar performs best in moist, fertile, well-drained soils. While it tolerates light shade, achieving the brightest foliage color and optimal flowering requires maximum sun exposure. It is highly adaptable regarding soil pH and type but critical drainage support is necessary to prevent root issues, especially in humid climates.

Watering should be consistent, aiming for medium moisture levels; allow the top inch of soil to dry slightly between deep waterings when established. Fertilization during the growing season promotes vibrant foliage, using a balanced, all-purpose fertilizer monthly. Pruning is generally light on the ‘Gold Mound’ selection since it naturally maintains a compact, mounding habit around 4 feet tall and 5 feet wide.

In regions outside of Zones 10-11, treat Pigeon berry as an annual shrub or grow it successfully in containers. If overwintering container plants, bring them inside before the first frost, placing them in a bright, sunny room until spring returns.

Landscape Uses

The compact, spreading habit of Duranta erecta ‘Gold Mound’ makes it exceptionally versatile in landscape design. It functions beautifully when massed as a low, colorful hedge or border planting, providing a bright foundational element along walkways or in front of taller shrubs.

When grown in warm climates, landscapers often utilize it as a lawn specimen, or it can be carefully trained into a small, ornamental tree structure, showcasing its weeping flower clusters. In cooler zones, its primary role shifts to colorful accents; use it liberally in containers alongside spillers and thrillers, or as a temporary annual replacement for boxwood hedges where vibrant color is preferred over formality.

Standout Features

Flower Qualities

• Showy

Fruit Qualities

• Showy

Noteworthy Characteristics

Duranta erecta, commonly called golden dewdrop, pigeon berry or sky flower, is native from Florida to Brazil and in the West Indies. It is a spreading, sometimes weeping, evergreen shrub or small tree that grows to 15-18’ tall in its native habitat. In St. Louis it is typically grown as a 2-4’ tall annual shrub or in containers that must be overwintered indoors. Sharp axillary thorns are usually present on stems of mature plants, but are usually absent on young plants. Features drooping axillary and terminal racemes of light blue to violet flowers which bloom summer to fall. Flowers give way in fall to drooping clusters of yellow-orange drupes. Oval to rounded, light green leaves (to 2” long).Genus name honors Castore Durante (c.1529-1590), Papal physician and botanist in Rome.Specific epithet means upright or erect. ‘Gold Mound’ is a compact, low-growing, mounding to spreading selection of golden dewdrop that features chartreuse foliage and loose sprays of lavender-blue flowers. The flowers are followed by orange, berry-like drupes. Mature plants will reach around 4’ tall with a 5’ spread.

Tolerances

• No serious insect or disease problems

Potential Problems

The primary advantage of growing Duranta erecta ‘Gold Mound’ is its relative pest resistance; it suffers from no serious insect or disease problems under ideal conditions. However, gardeners should remain vigilant for occasional outbreaks of whiteflies, particularly when the plant is grown indoors over winter. If whiteflies are detected, treat immediately using insecticidal soap or horticultural oil applied thoroughly to the undersides of the leaves. Proper air circulation and avoiding overwatering will help mitigate most fungal issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hardiness zones is Pigeon berry suitable for?

Duranta erecta ‘Gold Mound’ is winter hardy primarily in USDA Zones 9 through 11, though it is commonly grown as an annual in colder regions.

How large does Duranta erecta ‘Gold Mound’ grow?

This dwarf selection matures quite compactly, typically reaching only 2 to 4 feet in height with a corresponding spread of 3 to 5 feet, making it excellent for defined spaces.

What sun exposure does Pigeon berry need?

For the most brilliant chartreuse foliage and the best flowering, Duranta erecta ‘Gold Mound’ requires full sun exposure, though it can tolerate light shade.

When does Pigeon berry (Duranta erecta ‘Gold Mound’) bloom?

This plant acts as a seasonal bloomer, generally presenting its attractive lavender-blue flowers from summer leading into the fall season.

Conclusion

The striking chartreuse foliage and tidy growth habit secure the place of Duranta erecta ‘Gold Mound’ as a premier choice for adding year-round, warm-toned brightness to the garden. Whether functioning as a vibrant hedge component or a patio focal point, this Pigeon berry cultivar delivers low-maintenance impact. Before planting, confirm your local USDA hardiness zone and ensure well-draining soil conditions are met for optimal display.

Companion Planting

When selecting partners for Duranta erecta ‘Gold Mound’, focus on deep, contrasting colors to maximize the impact of its chartreuse leaves. Plants with dark purple or deep burgundy foliage, such as certain varieties of Coleus or dark-leaved Sweet Potato Vine (Ipomoea batatas), create a stunning juxtaposition against the bright yellow-green of the Pigeon berry.

Consider pairing this plant with textural accents. Because Duranta erecta ‘Gold Mound’ has a mounding habit, try surrounding its base with fine-textured groundcovers like creeping thyme or low-growing mondo grass. In container arrangements, use upright, deep green foliage plants as the ‘thriller’ to further accentuate the spreading, golden texture of the Duranta.

Design Ideas with Golden Dewdrop

The excellent, compact size of Duranta erecta ‘Gold Mound’ makes it an ideal candidate for contemporary, structured landscapes where color blocking is desired. Planted in a row, it forms a low, glowing border that brightens pathways even on overcast days. It also performs exceptionally well in modern architectural containers where its flowing, mounding structure softens hard lines.

For a tropical villa effect, combine the Pigeon berry with richly colored flowering annuals like deep purple Petunias or dark pink Calibrachoa. The consistent, medium water needs shared among these companions ensure easy holistic care. Remember that in USDA Zones 9-11, this evergreen shrub can provide structure year-round, while in cooler zones, plan for its replacement to maintain the garden’s visual weight during winter.