Duranta

Duranta is a genus of flowering plants in the Verbenaceae family. It includes several species, with Duranta erecta being the best known and widely grown as an ornamental. Native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, the genus is now cultivated in warm climates around the world.

Duranta species are evergreen shrubs or small trees that typically reach 2–6 meters in height. They have opposite, simple leaves that are elliptic to lanceolate with serrated margins. From spring through fall, they produce loose panicles of small tubular flowers, usually blue or purple. In many cultivars, small round berries appear after flowering; they ripen to yellow or orange and persist into the winter in milder climates. Birds often disperse the fruit.

Duranta prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil; it is drought-tolerant once established but frost-sensitive. It is widely used as hedges, screens, specimen plants, or in mixed borders, and can be propagated by semi-ripe cuttings or layering. In some regions it can escape cultivation and become invasive, so local guidelines should be followed.

All parts of Duranta plants are considered toxic if ingested by humans and many animals, with the berries posing particular hazards. Because of this and its potential invasiveness, cultivation may be restricted in some areas.