Here are some quick facts about the Golden dewdrop.
| Botanical Name | Duranta erecta |
| Common Name | Duranta plant, Golden Dewdrop, Duranta |
| Plant Type | Perrenial (Indoor), Annual (Outdoor) |
| Flower Color | Blue, White, Violet |
| Size When Mature | 2-4 feet tall and 1-2 feet wide |
| Bloom Time | Spring through frost |
| Sun Requirements | Full sunlight |
| USDA Hardiness Zones | 9-11 |
| Soil PH Range | 5.6-7.5 |
| Soil Type | Acidic – slightly alkaline, well-draining |
| Water Needs | Medium |
| Native Area | Mexico, Caribbean |
What you Need to Know About Golden Dewdrop
Commonly referred to as the Duranta plant, the Golden Dewdrop (Duranta erecta) is a fast-growing annual shrub whose native region is Mexico and the Caribbean. When grown outside of its hardiness range (zone 10-11) this member of the verbena family can be grown outdoors as an annual or as a potted perennial.
With pretty, white, violet, or pale blue flowers, that appear in the spring through frost the Golden Dewdrop is a popular landscaping plant in warm climates. It is often used as a hedging plant or as a screen to provide privacy.
This plant also produces small, golden-yellow to orange berries that are a bonus to the appearance of the plant. And while the berries are poisonous to humans as well as pets, birds love them! So, if you’re looking to attract feathered friends to your yard, the Golden Dewdrop may be the plant for you.
The foliage of the Duranta erecta is equally interesting. Mostly 2 inches long, the leaves are evergreen and rounder or oval in shape. There are some varieties of this plant, however, whose leaves are goldish or variegated.
If you’re wondering how large this plant can get in its native range, it has been known to grow up to 15 feet tall and spread 6-8 feet wide in warm-winter regions. When grown outside of these regions this plant will only get to a height of 2-4ft. tall and attain a width range of 1-2 feet.
How to Care for Golden Dewdrop
If you’re planning on growing the Duranta plant as an annual, one thing that you will love is that it will be pleasantly easy to grow and care for. When growing it as a perennial, however, you will need to take extra care of it as it is not as winter-hardy as other plants.
Here are the most important things to remember when taking care of your Golden Dewdrop:
– Light
The Golden Dewdrop thrives best when it is grown in an area that receives full sun. It will still do well in partial shade but it won’t flower as much, in addition to taking on a lanky growth trajectory.
– Water
This is not the most thirsty of plants, especially after becoming established. If irrigating, you should aim to deliver an equivalent of one inch of rain after every week. For potted plants, you will only have to water whenever the topsoil appears to be dry.
– Soil
This plant is not too picky when it comes to the soil as long as it is well-draining. If, however, you are growing your Golden Dewdrop as an annual, you will want to use rich, loamy soil to help it reach its potential.
– Temperature Requirements
This plant will thrive best in USDA hardiness zones 9-11. As such, the ideal temperature for this warm weather-adapted plant is between 77 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
Impressively, it can continue to grow even past 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Should the temperature fall below 40°F, however, your plant will more than likely start to struggle and eventually die.
If you are growing your Golden Dewdrop as a perennial in cooler regions, make sure to plant it in a container so that you can bring it indoors when the temperature starts to drop.
– Fertilizer
The Golden dewdrop won’t be just another of the heavy feeders on your lawn or in your house. You can, therefore, apply all-purpose general fertilizer at a rate of about once a month during middle spring to late summer. Using a fertilizer that is rich in oxygen does the trick when it comes to encouraging flower and leaf growth.
Common Diseases and Pests
The good news is that the Golden Dewdrop is not susceptible to too many diseases and pests. The most common problems that you are likely to face when growing these plants are:
– White fly infestation
This is the most common problem that you will face when taking care of your Golden Dewdrop. Whiteflies are tiny, winged insects that feed on the sap of plants. They tend to congregate on the undersides of leaves and, in large numbers, can cause the leaves to yellow and eventually die.
To get rid of whiteflies, you can either use insecticidal soap or neem oil. Both of these natural solutions will work to kill the pests without harming your plant.
– Leaves drop
If you’re drawing your duranta as a potted plant, you might notice that its leaves start to drop off whenever you bring it indoors for overwintering. While this might be alarming, it is actually quite normal.
The reason for this is that the plant is going through a process of acclimation and is adjusting to the change in temperature and light. Once it has acclimated, however, it will start to grow new leaves.
Golden Dewdrop Propagation
There are two main propagation methods that you can use for your Golden Dewdrop:
– Stem cuttings
The best way to propagate the Golden Dewdrop is through stem cuttings. To do this, take a sharp knife and cut a 4-6 inch section of stem from the plant. Make sure to cut just below a leaf node (the point on the stem from which leaves grow).
Next, remove the leaves from the bottom two-thirds of the cutting and dip the cut end into a rooting hormone.
After that, plant the cutting in a pot filled with well-draining potting mix. Keep the soil moist but not soggy and, in 4-6 weeks, you should see new growth.
– Seed propagation
This is not a highly recommended method of propagation as it is quite difficult to have the resulting plant come close to the parent plant. If this is not anything that worries you, then you can proceed to use this method.
To propagate by seed, you will first need to find fresh seeds from the berries of the plant. Once you have extracted enough seeds from the ripe berries, plant them in a pot filled with well-draining potting mix.
Keep the soil moist but not soggy. In 4-8 weeks at 70°F, you should see new growth.
Final word
The Golden Dewdrop is a beautiful and easy-to-care-for plant that will add a splash of color to any home or garden. With its bright flowers and glossy leaves, it is sure to make a statement wherever it is planted. So why not give this plant a try? You might just be surprised by how much you enjoy taking care of it.