Pithecellobium keyense
 
Common Names Florida Keys Blackbead, Blackbead, Florida Blackbead
 
Zones 10A–11
 
A rare, salt-tolerant shrub or small tree native to South Florida and the Caribbean, Pithecellobium keyense is found in coastal hammocks, dunes, and dry uplands. Its powderpuff-like flowers, corkscrew seed pods, and wildlife value make it a standout in restoration and native landscape designs. Listed as Threatened in Florida, it supports a wide range of butterflies and birds, including the endangered Miami Blue.
 
Key Features
Growth Habit: Multi-stemmed shrub to small tree; rounded canopy
Height: Typically 6–12 ft (1.8–3.6 m); may reach 15 ft in ideal conditions
Leaves: Bipinnately compound; leaflets elliptic; ~2 in long; smooth margins
Bark: Gray; shallowly fissured; often mottled with lichens
Flowers: Powderpuff-like; white to pink; fragrant; bloom winter through spring
Fruit: Coiled pods; split open to reveal red arils and glossy black seeds; highly ornamental
Ecology: Larval host for Cassius Blue, Large Orange Sulphur, and Miami Blue butterflies; nectar source for skippers and swallowtails; fruits consumed by birds including White-crowned Pigeon
 
Growing Conditions
Light: Full sun to part shade
Watering: Low; drought tolerant once established
Soil: Sandy or limestone-based; well-drained; calcareous (high pH)
Temperature: Sensitive below 30°F (–1°C); protect from frost
Humidity: High tolerance; thrives in coastal humidity
Propagation: Seed; plant fresh for best germination
Tolerance: Salt wind, brief inundation, drought, urban conditions
 
Landscape Use Ideal for coastal buffers, butterfly gardens, and hammock-edge restoration. Use as a specimen shrub or informal hedge in dry native beds. Pairs well with Jacquinia keyensis, Eugenia foetida, and Guapira discolor.