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Eugenia axillaris (Sw.)Willd.
White Stopper
Florida native
A frequent evergreen shrub to small tree mainly of coastal hammocks in much of the peninsula. Also occasionally found inland. The range includes Mexico and much of the Caribbean.
Growing up to about 8m (~26 ft.) tall with grayish-white scaly bark. The leaves are opposite with short, often reddish, petioles 2-8mm (up to about 1/3 in.) long. Blades are simple, ovate and most leaves taper to a narrow tip. The small, white, flowers are borne from the leaf axils in fragrant clusters. The fruit is a juicy berry 1-1.2cm (~3/8 to nearly 1/2") in diameter that are reddish to black in color.
Eugenia axillaris is a member of the Myrtaceae - Myrtle family.
Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants (Institute for Systemic Botany) profile for this species
iNaturalist profile for this species
USDA Plant Profile for this species
Date record last modified: Feb 11, 2026
