Spanish Stopper Plants: A Fragrant Wonder?

Spanish Stopper, Eugenia foetida, is a Florida native small tree or shrub, from the Eugenia species. It typically grows to a height of 12 to 20 feet and has dark green, leathery leaves. The flowers of the Spanish Stopper have a strong aroma, described as unpleasant or foul-smelling, and the plant also bears small, edible, dark red to black berries. The common name stopper refers to the plant's historical use as a treatment for diarrhoea.

The Spanish stopper tree has an unpleasant fragrance

The Spanish stopper tree, or *Eugenia foetida*, has an unpleasant fragrance. The species epithet *foetida* is the female form of the Latin word *foetidus*, meaning "bad-smelling". The name refers to the foul smell emitted by the flowers and leaves, particularly in the summer. The flowers are borne in dense, axillary clusters; the blooms are minute, white with yellow stamens. The flowers are inconspicuous and have a strong aroma that attracts pollinators. The plant is native to Florida and is typically 12 to 20 feet in height as a small tree or large columnar shrub with a dense rounded crown. Its attractive dark green leaves are abundant and persistent, leathery and 3/4 to 1 1/2 inches long. It is an easy plant to establish in average to dry soil. The slow growth, drought, and cold tolerance mean very little maintenance.

The flowers are white with yellow stamens

The Spanish stopper, or *Eugenia foetida*, is a small tree or shrub native to Florida. It typically grows to a height of 12 to 20 feet and has a dense, rounded crown. The flowers are white with yellow stamens and are borne in dense, axillary clusters. They are small and inconspicuous, with an unpleasant fragrance. The species name, *foetida*, is the female form of the Latin word *foetidus*, meaning 'bad-smelling'. The common name 'stopper' refers to the plant's historical use as a treatment for diarrhoea.

The Spanish stopper's white flowers appear in late summer and are covered in small, fragrant masses. They attract pollinators, while the dark fruit attracts songbirds. The plant is easy to establish in average to dry soil and is drought and cold-tolerant, requiring very little maintenance. It can be planted in tight spaces due to its upright growth and is commonly used for screening or enclosure, or as a small tree or hedge.

The leaves are dark green and leathery

The Spanish stopper plant, Eugenia foetida, has dark green leaves that are leathery in texture. The leaves are typically 3/4 to 1 1/2 inches long, although some sources state they can be up to 2 inches long. The plant is a small tree or large shrub, usually growing to a height of 12 to 20 feet. It is native to Florida and is characterised by its dense, rounded crown. The Spanish stopper's leaves are darker on the upper side than the underside and are simple, entire, and elliptical in shape. In addition to its distinctive leaves, the Spanish stopper is known for its flowers, which have a strong, unpleasant fragrance that attracts pollinators. The plant's common name, "stopper", refers to its historical use as a treatment for diarrhoea.

The Spanish stopper is a small tree or shrub

The Spanish stopper is slow-growing, drought and cold-tolerant, and can be planted in tight spaces. It is also tolerant of moderate amounts of salt air and short-term saltwater flooding. It should be planted in deep, dry soil with some organic matter.

The Spanish stopper is also known as Eugenia Foetida, the species epithet foetida being the female form of the Latin word foetidus, meaning 'bad-smelling'. This refers to the foul smell emitted by the flowers and leaves, particularly in the summer. The flowers are borne in dense, axillary clusters; the blooms are minute, white with yellow stamens. The flowers are inconspicuous and have an unpleasant fragrance, which attracts pollinators. The fruits are small fleshy edible berries, red maturing to black, and under 1 to 2 inches in diameter. The dark fruit attracts songbirds.

It is a Florida native plant

Spanish stopper, or *Eugenia foetida*, is a Florida native plant. It is a small tree or shrub, typically reaching a height of 12 to 20 feet. It is an understory plant in hammocks, with a lightly dense crown, and is commonly grown with multiple trunks. Its bark is smooth, brown to grey mottled, and its twigs are reddish. The leaves are leathery, green, and up to 2 inches long, with the upper surface darker than the lower surface. The flowers are white, with yellow stamens, and are borne in dense, axillary clusters. They have an unpleasant fragrance, which gives the species its name, and bloom year-round, with peak blooming in spring and summer. The fruits are small, fleshy, edible berries, red maturing to black, and under 1 to 2 inches in diameter.

Spanish stopper is native to coastal counties from Brevard County and the Keys in the south to Manatee and Monroe counties on the mainland. It is slow-growing and drought and cold-tolerant, requiring little maintenance. It can be planted in tight spaces and is suitable for use as a hedge or buffer, as well as an accent or specimen plant. It is also known as a good option for a thick, tall hedge that needs very little to no maintenance after establishment. Spanish stopper can be planted near a doorway, as a specimen, or in a mix with other coastal shrubs such as Marlberry, Wild Coffee, Wild Lime, and Saw Palmetto. It requires full sun to partial shade and can be established in average to dry, well-drained soil.

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