# Locustberry (*Byrsonima lucida*) The Locustberry is a small shrub that grows bright yellow berries. These berries are sweet and can be eaten by people and animals alike. It has shiny green leaves that make it look beautiful in gardens. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Locustberry](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Byrsonima_lucida.jpg&width=800) Photo: Mason Brock ( Masebrock ), Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Byrsonima_lucida.jpg) ## Appearance The Locustberry is an evergreen shrub or small tree with glossy, oval, dark green leaves. It produces clusters of small, five-petaled flowers, which typically start yellow and mature to shades of pink or orange, followed by small, round, red to dark purple berries. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Malpighiales - **Family:** Malpighiaceae - **Genus:** Byrsonima ## Interesting facts - Ancient people in Florida used parts of this plant for traditional medicine and food! - Its tasty berries are sometimes called 'locust plums' and can be eaten fresh or made into preserves! - Sometimes, a single Locustberry plant can have flowers and ripe berries all at the same time! - The wood of the locustberry is super dense and tough, even though the tree itself isn't huge! ## Special abilities - **Drought Dodger:** Locustberry can thrive in dry, sandy soils that other plants struggle with, helping it survive harsh conditions. - **Color-Shift Flowers:** Locustberry's flowers change from yellow to pink, signaling to pollinators they are ready for a visit. - **Salt Shield:** Locustberry has adaptations to withstand salt spray, allowing it to flourish in coastal environments. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 100-500 cm - **Spread:** 100-300 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring to Summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Helps spread pollen between flowers. - **Eaten by:** [Brown thrasher](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-thrasher) (*Toxostoma rufum*) — Feeds on its sweet, nutritious berries. - **Shelter:** [Blue-gray gnatcatcher](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-gray-gnatcatcher) (*Polioptila caerulea*) — Nests and hides among its dense leaves. - **Eats:** [Human](https://www.snappit.app/explore/human) (*Homo sapiens*) — Consumes its flavorful fruit. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always wash berries before eating them, and ask an adult for help. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Locustberry? Compare how the fruit is clustered, the leaves and their arrangement, the stems and any thorns. Red, blue and black fruits grow on lots of unrelated plants, and the same color can show up on both edible and poisonous species. Berry Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Locustberry? 100-500 cm ### How wide does Locustberry spread? 100-300 cm ### How big are the flowers on Locustberry? 0.5-1 cm ### When does Locustberry bloom? Spring to Summer ### Is Locustberry edible? Yes ### Is Locustberry toxic? None ### What is Locustberry's lifecycle? Perennial ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Locustberry: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/locustberry)