According to Kew Gardens, it is from Central America and probably Cuba and Florida.   After going through the photos and labels for specimens in the S , Tolerance, Unknown Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Considertions, Noted for being weedy. , Habitat, Disturbed. Old orange groves, pasture, roadsides. May occur naturally along the west FL coast including shell mounds and dunes . All records for in , Did You Know?, Showy flowers

Not much information is available on growing this species. Likely to be somewhat difficult to establish but very durable once established. Specimen p , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Wildlife, Attracts pollinators, especially important for native bees. Birds and other wildlife consume the fruit. Larval food for hummingbird clearwing moth(Hem , Habitat, Dry, sandy, well-drained sites including scrub and sandhill. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Showy fruits

Highly adaptable. While frequently in moist areas, broadly tolerant of dryness. Has been planted extensively for timber. This tree occurs throughout F , Tolerance, Tolerant of inundation with brackish water Moderate. Tolerant of salty wind and may get some salt spray. Exposure to salt spray would be uncommon ( , Wildlife, Squirrels and other animals eat the seeds.  In southern Florida, old trees are known to support red-cockaded woodpeckers. , Habitat, Moist sites. Low flatwoods, swamp edges, pine rockland, cutthroat seeps. Often cultivated in dry sites. , Did You Know?, Interesting foliage, Hurricane wind resistance

Very robust.  Forms large patches.  Given its potential to be very tall, it may needs to have support from adjacent plants.   Data on salt tolerance c , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. , Wildlife, Seeds eaten by small birds such as finches. , Habitat, Forests , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Attracts bumble bees, butterflies Larval host for the silvery checkerspot, found only in extreme north Florida.

Poisonous if ingested. Groundcover in open, dry, sandy sites especially on dunes and the upper fringes of beaches. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. High. Can tolerate significant and ongoing amounts of salty wind and salt spray without i , Habitat, Beach dunes. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers Attracts insects, especially bees.

Specimen plant, screen plantings, sometimes with unusual or weeping form. , Tolerance, Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray , Considertions, Thorns. , Wildlife, Birds and other wildlife consume the fruit.  Used as browse by deer and rabbits. , Habitat, Dry sites. Open woods, mixed woods, sandy pinelands. , Did You Know?, Showy flowers, Thorns Larval food for hummingbird clearwing moth(Hemaris thysbe), striped hairstreak butterfly(Satyrium liparops), and blinded sphinx