Light purple duranta is the classic duranta that has brightened Southern gardens for generations. From early summer into fall, its arching branches are covered in cascading clusters of soft lavender flowers, each one with a delicate, almost orchid-like look. A light purple duranta is easy to grow, loves our heat, and is one of the best shrubs for bringing butterflies into your yard. Slidell Nursery offers light purple duranta for gardens in Slidell, New Orleans, and across the Northshore. Ours is $40 in a 3 gal pot. Call or text 504-475-8084 to check availability.

What Is Light Purple Duranta?

Light purple duranta is the familiar lavender-flowered form of Duranta erecta, also called golden dewdrop, pigeon berry, or sky flower. The LSU AgCenter notes that the most common durantas have green leaves and light to medium blue flowers, a soft blue-lavender shade most gardeners simply call light purple. The flowers hang in long sprays at the tips of the branches, and as they fade, clusters of small golden berries take their place.

Because it blooms for months and asks for very little in return, light purple duranta is a dependable backbone plant for sunny Louisiana landscapes. It fits just as well in a cottage-style flower bed as it does in a commercial planting.

Why Choose Light Purple Duranta?

• Long bloom season: Flowers from early summer through early fall, right through the hottest weather.
• Butterfly magnet: One of the top shrubs for attracting butterflies, plus bees and hummingbirds.
• Soft, cooling color: Lavender blends with nearly every other flower color and looks fresh even on the hottest August day.
• Low maintenance: Very drought tolerant once established and needs only light trimming.
• Comes back in south Louisiana: Recommended by the LSU AgCenter as a perennial in our part of the state.

Size and Growth

The LSU AgCenter notes that durantas can reach about 5 feet tall as annuals and grow larger in warmer areas south of Interstate 10. In Slidell and New Orleans, a light purple duranta can become a full, arching shrub several feet tall and wide if left untrimmed. It grows quickly, so it fills space fast, and it responds well to light pruning when you want it smaller.

Design Ideas for Light Purple Duranta

• Pollinator garden: Combine light purple duranta with lantana, salvia, and pentas for a bed that hums with butterflies all summer.
• Purple and gold: Pair the lavender flowers with yellow-flowering plants or golden-leaved shrubs for a classic Louisiana color scheme.
• Informal hedge: Plant in a row along a fence or property line and let the branches arch for a soft, flowering screen.
• Specimen shrub: Let a single plant grow into a fountain of flowers at the corner of a house or in the center of an island bed.
• Containers: A large pot on a sunny patio puts the flowers, and the butterflies, at eye level.

How to Grow Light Purple Duranta

Sun and Soil

Plant in full sun for the most flowers. The LSU AgCenter describes duranta as a full-sun plant that is very drought tolerant and low maintenance once established. In partial shade it will still grow, but it blooms less and can get leggy as it stretches toward the light. University of Florida extension notes that it tolerates a wide range of soils, so it does well in most Slidell and New Orleans yards as long as water does not stand around the roots after heavy rain. If your beds stay soggy, plant on a slight mound or in a raised bed.

Planting

Spring through early summer is the ideal planting window because the shrub gets a full warm season to root in before winter. Dig a hole about twice as wide as the container and the same depth. Set the plant so the top of the root ball is level with the surrounding soil, backfill with native soil, and water deeply. Spread two to three inches of mulch around the base, keeping it a few inches off the stems.

Watering

Water new plants two or three times a week for the first several weeks, then taper off as they settle in. After the first summer, normal South Louisiana rainfall covers most of what the plant needs; water deeply during long dry spells or if the leaves droop in the afternoon heat and do not recover by evening.

Fertilizing

Feed lightly in spring with a slow-release, balanced shrub fertilizer, following the label. A second light feeding in early summer can support heavy flowering. Too much nitrogen pushes leafy growth at the expense of flowers, so more is not better.

Pruning

The LSU AgCenter recommends light pruning during the warm season to control size and growth. Tip back long, arching shoots to keep the plant full and in bounds, or shear it lightly if you are growing it as a hedge. Avoid heavy pruning in fall, since tender new growth is more easily damaged by cold. In late winter or early spring, remove any branches killed by freezes once you can see where new growth is starting.

Seasonal Care Calendar

• Late winter: Wait for signs of new growth, then trim out any branches damaged by cold. Pull back old mulch and check for scale on the stems.
• Spring: Plant new shrubs, apply a light feeding of slow-release fertilizer, and refresh mulch.
• Early summer: Flowering begins. Water new plantings during dry weeks and tip back any shoots that grow out of shape.
• Mid to late summer: Enjoy peak bloom and butterflies. Trim spent flower clusters if you want fewer berries, and keep up with light shaping.
• Fall: Flowering winds down and berries color up. Stop heavy pruning and fertilizing so the plant can harden off before cold weather.
• Before a hard freeze: Water the bed well a day ahead. Young plants can be covered overnight with frost cloth that reaches the ground; remove it the next morning.

Winter Hardiness in South Louisiana

The LSU AgCenter recommends duranta as a perennial in south Louisiana and notes that in central and north Louisiana it is often grown as an annual. University of Florida lists it for USDA zones 9a to 11. In Slidell and New Orleans, an established plant usually comes through winter, though an unusually hard freeze can burn back the top growth. If that happens, be patient; wait for warm weather and new growth before cutting back damaged wood.

Butterflies, Bees and Hummingbirds

This is one of the best shrubs for a pollinator garden. University of Florida extension notes that the flowers attract butterflies, bumble bees, and hummingbirds. Plant it near a patio, porch, or window where you can watch the visitors all summer long.

Berries: A Safety Note

After flowering, the plant forms clusters of small golden-orange berries, which give it the common names golden dewdrop and pigeon berry. They are attractive, but University of Florida extension cautions that the fruits are poisonous to humans. Plant away from areas where small children play, and keep pets from chewing on the berries. Trimming off spent flower clusters before berries form is an easy way to reduce fruit if this is a concern.

Responsible Gardening

Birds eat the berries and can spread seeds. In Florida, UF/IFAS predicts the species to be invasive in natural areas. Removing spent flower clusters and pulling volunteer seedlings keeps it where you want it.

Pests and Problems

Duranta is generally tough. UF/IFAS lists scale and chewing insects as the main pests. Check the undersides of leaves and stems occasionally; light infestations can be handled with horticultural oil or insecticidal soap, following the label. Good sun, good drainage, and not overwatering keep the plant vigorous and better able to shrug off problems.

Other Duranta Colors at Slidell Nursery

Durantas look wonderful planted in mixed colors. Compare our dark purple duranta, white duranta, and variegated duranta, or browse all shrubs for more sun-loving choices.

Light Purple Duranta FAQ

When does light purple duranta bloom?

From early summer through early fall, with golden berries following the flowers.

Does light purple duranta attract butterflies?

Yes. It is one of the best shrubs for butterflies, and it also draws bees and hummingbirds.

Will light purple duranta come back after winter?

In south Louisiana it is grown as a perennial. A hard freeze can burn back the top, but established plants usually regrow in spring.

How much does light purple duranta cost?

Our light purple duranta is $40 in a 3 gal pot. Availability changes through the season, so call or text 504-475-8084 to confirm we have it in stock.

Learn More

For more on growing duranta, see the LSU AgCenter duranta plant of the week and University of Florida Gardening Solutions: golden dewdrop.

Stop by Slidell Nursery to see our shrubs in person, or call or text 504-475-8084 about adding light purple duranta to your garden.