Clusia rosea – also known as pitch apple – is a hugely popular landscape plant. Many homeowners choose to add this shrub to their landscapes. Keep in mind, however, that Clusia gets to be very big. Clusia may grow up to 30 feet high and spread up to 25 feet. Given this information, be sure to plant Clusia where it will grow best so it’s the right plant for the right place. I’ve noticed many homeowners plant Clusia too close to home foundations, fences, and driveways. Keeping it as a short hedge will require frequent pruning and maintenance. If you don’t have the space to grow Clusia, you may want to consider another landscape plant better suited to the landscape. See this UF/IFAS publication for more information about Clusia: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/ST172

Check out the Florida-Friendly Landscaping Guide to Plant Selection and Landscape Design for more shrub choices and landscape tips: https://ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/media/fflifasufledu/docs/FYN_Plant_Selection_Guide_2015.pdf

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