Piedmont Staggerbush

Lyonia mariana

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Ericaceae
Genus:
Lyonia
Species:
Lyonia mariana

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Shrub
Height:
4-6 ft
Light Requirements:
Part Shade
Drought Tolerance:
High
Bloom Months:
may, jun
Bloom Colors:
White, Pink
Evergreen Shrub:
Yes
Landscaping Shrub:
Yes

Native Range

United States: Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia

Keystone Species Ranking

Bee Keystone:
★★★★★ Based on number of native bee species using this genus for pollen and nectar (Source: National Wildlife Federation)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Major datana (Datana major), post-burn datana (Datana ranaeceps)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
sandy, acidic, nutrient-poor soil
pH:
4.5 - 6.5 (acidic to slightly acidic)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
dry to moderate
Notes:
Common in pine barrens and dry forests

Germination Information

Pre-treatment: Cold-moist stratification for 30 days at 1–5°C (34–41°F).; then Cold-moist stratification for 60 days.

Source: OpenAI GPT-4o