Myrcianthes fragrans 'Geode'

Flowers
Small, bright white, with numerous graceful stamens extending beyond the petals in a spidery cluster. Borne in paired stalks along the branches, fragrant and produced most heavily in spring with sporadic flowering year-round in warm climates. Reliably attractive to butterflies and native bees.

Foliage
Leaves are small, rounded to oval, deep glossy green, densely arranged on stiff branches. Release a distinctive nutmeg-citrus fragrance when crushed. Foliage is evergreen and remains dense in full sun; in part shade it thins slightly, revealing the ornamental bark beneath.

Bark
Smooth, reddish-brown, exfoliating in irregular patches on mature stems. Most visible in part shade where foliage is less dense. A genuinely ornamental feature at close range.

Fruit
Small red berries borne in pairs — the twinberry characteristic from which the common name derives. Ripen through summer and into autumn. Edible and sweet; highly attractive to mockingbirds, waxwings, and a range of frugivorous birds. The paired red berries against dark foliage are the ornamental feature the cultivar name 'Geode' references.

Sun
Full sun to part shade. Densest, most floriferous growth in full sun. Part shade is tolerated and reveals the bark more effectively, but reduces fruiting somewhat. Avoid deep shade.

Soil
Broadly adaptable. Performs well in the sandy, well-drained, slightly acidic soils of its native Florida hammock habitat, and tolerates clay, loam, alkaline conditions, and salt-laden coastal soils. Drought tolerant once established. Does not tolerate prolonged waterlogging.

Watering
Regular moisture during establishment, typically the first one to two seasons. Once rooted in, considerably drought tolerant and requires little supplemental irrigation in average conditions. Tolerates both dry spells and occasional wet periods better than most ornamental shrubs.

Fertilizing
Light balanced fertilizer in early spring if desired. Not a heavy feeder — established plants in average soils require little supplemental nutrition. In sandy coastal soils, annual slow-release fertilization supports best growth and fruiting.

Pruning
Responds well to pruning and can be maintained as a formal hedge, informal screen, or shaped specimen. Prune after the main spring flowering flush to avoid removing developing fruit. Tolerates hard pruning for rejuvenation. Left unpruned, develops into a graceful, multi-stemmed small tree with considerable natural character.

Pests and problems
Generally pest and disease resistant. Salt spray tolerant, hurricane wind resistant, and drought hardy once established — a genuinely tough plant once it finds its footing. No significant problems in cultivation.