Pigeon berry (Duranta erecta 'Cuban Gold')

Overview

Duranta erecta ‘Cuban Gold’, known widely as Pigeon berry, provides exceptional year-round color with its chartreuse to golden yellow foliage, setting it apart from standard green shrubs. This specific selection offers a low-growing, well-branched habit, making it perfect for brightening borders or containers where space is limited. While it produces small, light lavender-blue flowers sporadically, it is primarily valued for its vibrant foliage display.

This broadleaf evergreen thrives when given consistent moisture and plenty of sunlight, though it possesses enough tolerance to handle light shade. Gardeners in warmer climates (USDA Zones 9-11) can enjoy Duranta erecta ‘Cuban Gold’ as a permanent shrub feature. Elsewhere, this versatile plant is successfully utilized as a lively annual or an overwintered houseplant, ensuring its golden glow persists across seasons.

The relatively compact nature of Duranta erecta ‘Cuban Gold’ minimizes pruning needs compared to its larger relatives, offering high visual impact with manageable maintenance. For gardeners seeking a bright focal point or trailing accent, Pigeon berry is an excellent, reliable choice for injecting continuous color into the landscape design.

Fast Facts

• Plant Family: Verbenaceae
• Plant Type: Broadleaf evergreen
• Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 9-11
• Size at Maturity:
  • Height: 0.75-2 ft
  • Spread: 2-3 ft
• Bloom Time: Seasonal bloomer
• Bloom Description: Light lavender-blue
• Sun Exposure: Full sun
• Water Needs: Medium
• Maintenance Level: Medium

How to Grow

Planting Duranta erecta ‘Cuban Gold’ is best done when the danger of frost has passed, allowing it to establish roots in moist, fertile, well-drained soils. Although this shrub tolerates a wide range of soil types, good drainage is crucial for long-term health, especially when grown in containers favored by this selection. Full sun exposure guarantees the most intense golden coloration in the foliage.

Water needs are medium; ensure the soil remains consistently moist, especially during hot, dry spells, but avoid letting the roots sit in soggy conditions. Fertilize lightly throughout the growing season to support the steady production of new golden leaves. Pruning is usually minimal for the ‘Cuban Gold’ selection due to its naturally mounding habit, primarily limited to shaping or removing any errant, faster-growing stems.

For gardeners outside Zones 10 and 11, treat Pigeon berry as a tender specimen. Container plants must be carefully protected; bring them inside the home before the first autumn frost finds your area. Overwintering should occur in a bright, sunny room to maintain good foliage density until it can safely return outdoors in spring.

Landscape Uses

The compact habit and brilliant foliage make Duranta erecta ‘Cuban Gold’ exceptionally useful as a border edger, providing a brilliant, low-growing frame for taller perennial beds. Its mounding, spreading growth habit also makes it superb for mass plantings where continuous color coverage is desired without significant height. Furthermore, this variety excels in containers or mixed-planters on patios, where its golden hue contrasts beautifully with deep green or variegated companions.

When designing with Pigeon berry, pair it with plants that feature contrasting textures or colors, such as dark purple foliage or fine-textured ornamental grasses. Its suitability as an annual in cooler climates means it can be strategically used to anchor seasonal displays, adding instant vibrancy from spring planting right through to fall cutting back. Remember that while it is grown as an annual shrub in some regions, its natural tendency provides significant structural interest in containers.

Standout Features

Flower 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.‘Cuban Gold’ is a low-growing selection of golden dewdrop that features chartreuse to golden yellow foliage and a well-branched, spreading to mounding habit. Mature plants will reach up to 2’ tall and spread to fill a 3’ area. Small, light lavender-blue flowers bloom sporadically and are followed by round, berry-like drupes. Primarily grown for the colorful foliage rather than the blooms or fruits.

Tolerances

• Tolerates wide range of soils

Potential Problems

Pigeon berry generally presents few serious insect or disease challenges, making it a relatively low-stress addition to the garden. The primary pest concern reported is occasional infestation by whiteflies, particularly when the plant is stressed or grown indoors over winter. Inspect the undersides of the leaves regularly, and if whiteflies are noticed, treat immediately using insecticidal soap or horticultural oil to control their populations before they spread significantly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hardiness zones is Pigeon berry suitable for?

Duranta erecta ‘Cuban Gold’ is winter hardy in USDA Zones 9 through 11, where it can be grown as a permanent broadleaf evergreen shrub.

How large does Duranta erecta ‘Cuban Gold’ grow?

When mature, this low-growing selection typically reaches a height between 0.75 and 2 feet, spreading out to occupy an area 2 to 3 feet wide.

What sun exposure does Pigeon berry need?

The brightest, most vibrant chartreuse-golden foliage is achieved when Duranta erecta ‘Cuban Gold’ is situated in full sun, although it can tolerate limited amounts of light shade.

When does Pigeon berry bloom?

This plant is classified as a seasonal bloomer, producing small flowers described as light lavender-blue sporadically throughout the warmer months.

Conclusion

The brilliant, golden foliage of Duranta erecta ‘Cuban Gold’ offers outstanding visual contrast and consistent color wherever it is planted. Whether used as a dependable container accent or a low border feature in warm regions, this Pigeon berry adds immediate brightness to any planting scheme. Always confirm that your local climate meets the minimum Zone 9 requirement or plan to overwinter your Duranta erecta ‘Cuban Gold’ carefully indoors.

Companion Planting

When selecting companions for Pigeon berry, focus on plants that provide textural or color contrast to maximize the impact of the golden foliage. Dark-leaved annuals, such as ‘Black Mondo Grass’ or dark purple sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas), create striking visual drama against the chartreuse of Duranta erecta ‘Cuban Gold’. For textural contrast, pairing it with fine-leaved plants like creeping Jenny or ornamental grasses provides a balanced bed. Ensure all companion plants share similar cultural needs, requiring medium water and full to partial sun exposure.

Container Growing

Growing Duranta erecta ‘Cuban Gold’ in containers is one of its highest-value uses, allowing its gracefully spreading habit to cascade slightly over the edge of the pot. Use a high-quality, well-draining potting mix mixed with some compost to ensure fertility and moisture retention. Because container plants dry out faster than those in the ground, pay close attention to its medium water requirement during the peak summer heat. Empty excess water from the saucer promptly to prevent saturated roots, which can lead to decline, especially important for this species.