Bloomipedia
Coastal plain staggerbush (Lyonia fruticosa)
Photo: Jay Horn via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Coastal plain staggerbush

Lyonia fruticosa

Native to Florida

Coastal plain staggerbush is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Florida it's most often seen in bloom in January–June.

3states
4,183FL sightings*
4,227U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Florida

Quick look

Lyonia fruticosa, the poor-grub or coastal plain staggerbush, is a plant species native to the US states of Florida, southern Georgia and the extreme southern part of South Carolina. It grows in pine woodlands and shrub bogs at elevations less than 100 meters.

  • It belongs to the Ericaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 3 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Florida. NatureServe
  • In Florida, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in January–June. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 4,183 research-grade sightings of it in Florida, ranking #56 among the 110 flowers on our Florida list. iNaturalist

Coastal plain staggerbush gift ideas

Handmade coastal plain staggerbush gifts from independent makers.

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When does it bloom?

In Florida, most flowering sightings come in January–June.

Flowering records by month in Florida (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (120 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G4 Apparently secure worldwide. NatureServe
Florida
Not listed Not on Florida Regulated Plant Index (Fla. Admin. Code 5B-40.0055). NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Florida. FAC 5B-40.0055
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: SC (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsToxic to dogs, cats and horses

ASPCA's entry “Maleberry” (Lyonia sp), which covers the whole genus, lists it as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Signs include: Vomiting, diarrhea, depression, cardiovascular collapse, hypersalivation, weakness, coma, low blood pressure, death. Ingestion of a few leaves can cause serious… ASPCA

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records coastal plain staggerbush in 3 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Florida, Georgia, South Carolina.

Florida counties with USDA records: Alachua, Baker, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Franklin, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, Wakulla.

More Florida flowers

Fetterbush lyonia (Lyonia lucida)

Fetterbush lyonia

Lyonia lucida

Native

🌼 Blooms in FL: January–December
Florida rosemary (Ceratiola ericoides)

Florida rosemary

Ceratiola ericoides

Native

🌼 Blooms in FL: October–December
Shiny blueberry (Vaccinium myrsinites)

Shiny blueberry

Vaccinium myrsinites

Native

🌼 Blooms in FL: January–March

Sources