Latin name - Myrcianthes fragrans

The Simpson Stopper is a slow growing Florida native that can be grown as a shrub or small tree.   It is evergreen with bark that exfoliates to reveal a red brown color.  The leaves smell like nutmeg when crushed.  Its showy white flowers bloom in April and May and attract pollinators.  Birds love to eat its colorful berries.  It is named after botanist Charles Torrey Simpson who wrote several books about plants in South Florida and is called “stopper” due to its historical medicinal use of stopping diarrhea.  

Plant in full sun to partial sun.  Once established, Simpson Stopper is extremely drought tolerant.  It makes a great border or hedge.