Myrcianthes Fragrans Family: Myrtaceae - Lee County Extension ...

Myrcianthes fragrans Family: Myrtaceae 

Estero, Florida Late February 

St Petersburg, Florida Early June 

Stephen H. Brown, Horticulture Agent 

Bronwyn Mason, Master Gardener 

Lee County Extension, Fort Myers, Florida 

(239) 533-7513 brownsh@ufl.edu 

http://lee.ifas.ufl.edu/hort/GardenHome.shtml 

Simpson’s Stopper; Twinberry 

Synonyms (Discarded names): Anamomis 

fragrans; Eugenia fragrans; E. simpsonii; 

Myrtus fragrans 

Origin: South Florida; Bahamas; Caribbean; 

Mexico through Central America to 

Colombia and Venezuela 

U.S.D.A. Zone: 9b-11 (25°F minimum) 

Growth Rate: Slow 

Plant Type: Shrub to small tree 

Leaf Persistence: Evergreen 

Flowering Months: Primarily late winter, 

spring and intermittently 

Light Requirements: High; medium 

Salt Tolerance: High 

Drought Tolerance: High once established 

Soil Requirements: Well-drained, 

occasionally wet 

Nutritional Requirements: Low 

Major Potential Pests: None 

Typical Dimensions: 20-30’ high by 15- 

20’ wide 

Propagation: Seeds or cuttings 

Human hazards: None 

Uses: Small tree; parking lot island; roadway 

median; hedge, screen; mass planting; 

butterfly and wildlife attractor 

Distribution 

Simpson’s stopper is native to South Florida 

where it was originally found in scattered 

hammocks near the coast. However, it has 

adapted well to landscapes and gardens in 

northern Florida and along the Atlantic 

coast up to Charleston, South Carolina. 

Although native to the Caribbean, it is 

nevertheless rare in Puerto Rico, and more 

common on the other Caribbean islands. 

The Island of Mayaguana in Southern Bahamas 

still retains forests of Simpson’s Stopper 

growing on elevated rocky ridges.

Growth Habit 

Simpson’s stopper is a multi-stemmed shrub or small tree with a densely branched and densely leafy 

evergreen crown. The crown varies from narrow and subcolumnar to wider than the plant is tall. It is 

distinguished by a trunk with flaking outer bark, a reddish brown inner bark, and a smooth mottled tangray 

trunk after bark exfoliation. The exfoliated bark is somewhat like the introduced guava, Psidium 

guajava. The tree will typically grow to about 25 feet in Florida and develops a buttressed base with age. 

Cultivars 

Seedling form Simpson’s stopper can be selected fro a range of features including reddish new foliate, 

smaller leaves, better form, and compact shape. The ‘Compacta’ form is a lower growing shrub to 5 feet 

and can be used in smaller landscape setting or as foundation plants. 

Flaking outer bark Buttressed base 

Leaves 

The leaves are simple, entire and opposite with a short petiole. The blade is elliptic to obovate, thick and 

leathery and between 1 to 2 inches long and 0.5 to 1.25 inches wide. The upper surface is shiny green, 

and the lower surface is dull light green. New leaves may range in color from pale chartreuse to deep 

wine red. The blade may curl under at the margins and the apex is either blunt or rounded and sometimes 

notched. It is covered with tiny gland dots that emit a pleasant fragrance when crushed. The side 

veins are inconspicuous. 

Flower and Fruit 

Simpson’s stopper flowers in light to heavy flushes throughout the year. The heaviest bloom however 

begins in February, spring, or early summer. The flowers are fragrant, small, showy, pure white, and 

clustered in cymes. There are 4 concave white petals and many white spreading stamens giving the 

plant a fuzzy appearance when in bloom. Heavy flowering is followed by fruiting. The fruit is a red 

berry, 2-seeded, and approximately 1/3 inches round. The fruit is borne singly but more often in clusters 

of 2-4 and is edible. Blue jays, cardinals and the mockingbirds, the state bird of Florida, feed on the 

fruit. The plant’s dense canopy also provides shelter for the birds. Butterflies as well as bees are also 

attracted to Simpson’s stopper.

Leaves Mid-March 

Flowers Late-February 

Unripe fruits Early March 

Leaves and newly formed flower buds Mid-April 

Flowers Late-April 

Fruits Early March

Uses 

Simpson’s stopper is commonly used as a hedge, specimen or tree. It is It is tolerant of highly alkaline 

calcareous soils. Thus it is well adapted for South Florida parking lots, and landscapes composed of 

filled soils mined from calcareous rocks well below the soil’s surface. Florida Department of Transportation 

has approved Simpson’s stopper as a frangible tree. This provide many more opportunities to use 

Simpson’s stopper on roadway landscape projects. It is especially useful in the narrow center medians 

where only frangible trees and plants are allowed. 

Roadway tree in bloom Late April 

Rick Joyce 

Rick Joyce 

Ripe fruits Mid July Ripe fruits Mid July 

Leu Garden, Orlando Late April

Planting and Maintenance Guidelines 

In South Florida, Simpson’s stopper can be planted year-round. It is a slow grower. It grows to about 25 

feet tall but only at a rate of 6 inches to a foot per year. The plant will tolerate alkaline and wet soils but 

it is also drought tolerant. However, within the first 4 years after planting, the tree may show signs of 

drought stress during extended dry periods. Thus, it should be sufficiently irrigated during the dry seasons 

of its early years. Once established, it requires little or no irrigation. Simpson’s stopper will grow 

well in either sun or medium shade. It grows densely in full sun and is taller on a more loosely 

branched when grown in shade. It has a high salt tolerance, and is hardy to about 25°F. It has survived 

17°F with very little tip burn. Simpson’s stopper shears well. It tolerates severe shearing making it suitable 

for use as a hedge, bonsai, topiary or grown on the patio in a large container. To develop a hedge, 

space plants 36-60 inches apart. When used as a hedge, flowering and fruiting may be curtailed if it is 

trimmed too frequently. Simpson’s stopper is an evergreen and is not messy in the landscape. 

Hedge Mid-January 

Pests 

Guava rust disease (Puccinia psidii) is an ornamental plant disease which attacks stressed Simpson’s 

stopper plants. Usually fungus is associated with wet conditions, but guava rust will thrive in South Florida’s 

cool winter periods where there is little rainfall. The fungus is evident by the rusty spores on new 

growth and young leaves. It causes dieback. The disease is rarely encountered on Simpson’s stopper but 

is more prevalent on Eugenia. A fungicide labeled for this disease on ornamentals may be applied. Once 

the heat of summer arrives, the pathogen becomes less active. 

Light guava rust infection Late February 

Doug Caldwell 

Heavy guava rust infection Late February

References 

Gilman, Edward. Revised 2011. Mycrianthes fragrans Simpson’s stopper, Twinberry. UFIFAS, EDIS 

publication #FPS418, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fp418 

Haehle, RG, Brookwell, J. R. 2004. Native Florida Plants. Taylor Trade Publishing, Lanham, MD 

Little, Elbert, Jr., Woodbury, Roy, O. and Wadsworth, Frank, H. 1974.. Trees of Puerto Rico and the 

Virgin Islands. U.S. Government Printing Office, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. 

Nelson, Gil. 2003. Florida’s Best Native Landscape Plants: 200 readily available species for homeowners 

and professionals. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL 

Osorio, Rufino. 2001. A Gardener’s Guide to Florida’s Native Plants. University Press of Florida, 

Gainesville, FL 

Tomlinson, P.B. 1980. The Biology of Trees Native to Tropical Florida. Harvard University Printing 

Office, Allston, MA 

Useful Links 

South Florida Native Plant Fact Sheets 

Native Plants for Home Landscapes 

Florida Native Landscaping 

Ornamental Trees for South Florida 

Small Trees for South Florida 

‘Shady Lady’ Black Olive 

FYN Publications 

This fact sheet was reviewed by Sandra Barbour Wilson, UF Indian River Research and Education Center, 

Fort Pierce, Florida; John Sibley, Lee County Master Gardener and owner of All Native Garden 

Center, Nursery & Landscapes, Fort Myers, Florida; ; Rick Joyce, Forestry Resources Ecological, Inc., 

Fort Myers, Florida; Jenny Evans, Sanibel Captiva Foundation, Sanibel, Florida; Peggy Cruz, 

Lee County Extension Service; Cathy Feser, Naples, Florida. 

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information 

and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, religion, age, disability, 

sex, sexual orientation, martial status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension 

Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. 2/2012.

Myrcianthes Fragrans Family: Myrtaceae - Lee County Extension ...

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