Quailberry
Crossopetalum ilicifolium

Although native to parts of the Keys and the Dade County rocklands this low shrub of only six inches does well through Palm Beach County. It will spread out to a two foot diameter mat of tiny green leaves with bright red berries almost all year.

The soil should be rich with fertilizer and mulch to produce the most beautiful plants. Full sun is required. Birds eat the berries which are mildly sweet and edible in small quantities.

This is not a holly, but a member of the Bittersweet family. The low height and slow growth rate make this a superb groundcover under slow growing plants. Use in a rock garden along with lignum vitae, beach creeper, longstalk stopper, thatch palms, coontie, Chapman's cassia, Joewood, racoma, twinflower, Havana scullcap and locustberry.