Lyonia ferruginea – Rusty Staggerbush (B&B.DR.FC.FRG.H.M.NB.OP)

Ecosystem Services:
(B)-Birds                                             (B&B)-Birds & Butterflies

(BTF)-Butterflies                             (BW)-Black Walnut Resistant

(DR)-Deer Resistant                      (DRGHT)-Drought Resistant

(EC)-Erosion Control                    (EVR)-Evergreen

(FC)-Fall Color                                 (FRG)-Fragrant

(GRD)-Groundcover                      (H)-Host plant

(HMR)-Hummingbirds                (M)-Mammals

(MTH)-Moths                                   (N)-Nectar

(NB)-Native Bees                            (NST)-Nesting Material

(OP)-Other pollinators                 (RR)-Rabbit Resistant

(SHWY)-Showy                                (SPC)-Specimen Plant

Rusty Staggerbush is an evergreen flowering shrub or small tree that is prized for is clusters of fragrant, white, urn-shaped flowers.  Blooming in early to late spring, they flowers are fragrant and smell like roses.

When new leaves emerge, they are rusty colored, leading to the common name, Rusty Staggerbush.  This tree is noted for the bark on it’s twisted, crooked trunks,  which is cinnamon brown, scaly and ridged.  Rusty Staghgerbush occurs naturally in scrub, scrubby flatwoods, xeric hammocks and moist pine flatwoods.

It is suitable for borders, foundations or near a deck or patio.  This species can be used in poorly drained places where many species struggle.

Grows up to 10-20 ft. tall, and 4-10 ft. wide and will spread by root suckers to form colonies over time.  It performs best in full sun in moist to dry, acidic, well-drained soils.

Host for the Lace Bug, Stephanitis blatchleyi.