Agarista populifolia (Florida Hobblebush)

Agarista populifolia (Florida Hobblebush) is a large evergreen shrub with a lax, arching, multi-stemmed habit. Its gracefully upward-arching branches are clothed with alternately arranged, lance-shaped leaves. Emerging reddish-bronze, the leaves turn to light green as the season progresses, before maturing to rich, glossy-green. The foliage remains green through the winter and is clean and disease free. In late spring to early summer, profuse clusters of fragrant, creamy-white flowers appear along the undersides of the arching branches. The flowers mature into small round pods that ripen to brown before shedding their seeds. A desirable evergreen shrub for screening or growing along a stream.

• Grows up to 8-12 ft. tall (240-360 cm) and 5-6 ft. wide (150-180 cm). May grow wider over time with the emergence of suckers or vigorous shoots.
• A part shade to full shade lover, this plant is easily grown in moist, acid, fertile soil. Tolerates seasonal flooding.
• Perfect as a specimen or in groupings for borders, privacy screens. The spreading, suckering nature of Florida Hobblebush makes it useful for stream bank restoration.
• Low maintenance, this plant is generally disease and pest free. Deer resistant.
• Can be maintained at any height with proper pruning.
• Easily rooted from cuttings in late summer or fall.
• Leaves contain a volatile resin that deters herbivory, but can be fatal when ingested.
• Native to Florida, Georgia, South Carolina.