PHOTO:trusty125, iNaturalist

PHOTO: mikoikoi, iNaturalist

PHOTO: Scott Zona

PHOTO: Mary Keim

Florida Hobblebush or Pipestem Agarista populifolia

Phonetic Spelling

ah-gah-RIS-tah pop-yoo-lih-FOL-ee-ah

Plant Type: Multistem shrub

Plant Height: 10-15’

Plant Spread: 4-8’

Sunlight Preference: Partial sun to shade.

Soil Preference: Acidic moist soils to occasionally wet soils.

Uses in Landscaping: Can be used as a hedgerow or grown in clumps/groups to make a nice tall shrub as an accent plant.

Ease of purchase/acquiring: Most plants can be purchased online, and it seems not many nurseries in the state keep this plant in stock, so online purchase is best. Try to shop for local seeds and plants always.

How and When to Plant: Plant in early summer before new leaves emerge and water twice a week for two weeks until established, water on occasion if soils are not wet enough and once summer rainy season starts in June/July water only when needed.

Upkeep: Do not prune living stems, only prune dead ones. This plant is also deer resistant.

Charismatic/ID Features:

Flowers: Small white and numerous along the stems and usually hang slightly under the branches. Flowers show up in April to May and are loved by many types of pollinators.

Leaves: Leaves are alternate of one another and the edges of the leaves are very finely serrated almost appearing smooth. New growth is reddish bronze but turns a bright lime green color as they develop and end dark green and glossy when fully mature. They have a prominent vein that runs down the middle of the leaf.

Branches: Upward-arching branching structure, and if young stems are cut in half there will be a hollow center in the stems.

Bark: Smooth and brown when young but develops into a somewhat rough bark with small fissures darkening with age.