Duranta erecta 'Variegata' (Variegated Sky Flower) - This is the white variegated form of the popular Brazilian Sky Flower that is grown for its blue flowers and ornamental golden fruit. The duranta has attractive evergreen foliage, and some varieties have gold or variegated (different colored) leaves. A bonus is the appearance of ornamental berries in the fall. Planted in the spring, the duranta grows quickly in warm areas into a large shrub or small tree over the course of a few seasons.
Duranta plants require a moderate amount of water. Plants growing outdoors need the equivalent of about an inch of rain per week. When growing in containers, water your duranta when the top of the soil feels dry.
Duranta plants are not heavy feeders and can get by without any supplemental fertilizer in rich soil. In lean or rocky soils, you can use an all-purpose general fertilizer once a month during the growing season.
An ideal soil would be made up of 45% minerals (sand, clay, silt), 5 % organic (plant and animal) material, 25% air and 25% water. The mineral portion would be loam (20 – 30% clay, 30 – 50% silt and 30 – 50% sand).
Cut away dead, damaged or diseased branches at the base of the tree. Remove old wood that no longer flowers. Use loppers for branches too large for the pruning shears. Prune overgrowth back to a pleasing shape and size. Remove the longest branches at the tree base to control height and spread.
