Florida-friendly Sweet Almond Bush

Two years ago, the Escambia Master Gardener Volunteers were gifted with the flowering perennial Sweet Almond bush (Aloysia virgata).  It has quickly become a favorite plant of volunteers and garden visitors due to its many attractive features.

Although, Sweet almond bush is not a Florida native, it is Florida-friendly plant for zones 8b -10b.  Plants grow very large, from 6-10 feet with branching that can spread out in all directions.  In North Florida, plants can be damaged by a freeze but either return from the base or from growing points higher on branches.

One of the best features are the fragrant white flowers spikes that will be present late spring through fall. Many types of pollinating insects will be attracted to the flowers, although sometimes flowers are too high on the plant for many of us to get a good look at pollinator details.

We have plants both in full sun and partial shade that are performing well in the Escambia Demonstration Gardens.  Plants do receive water when rainfall is lacking for about 5-7 days (or all of August this year in the Northwest Panhandle).  You can shape your plant with a little light pruning during the growing season to keep branches a little more in bounds. Don’t forget to start a few new plants from these cuttings and then share a low maintenance plant with your neighbors.