When does gopher apple bloom?

Gopher apple typically flowers from April through June, producing small white blossoms along its low stems.

What pollinates gopher apple flowers?

The flowers are visited mainly by bees and beetles, which move between the small blooms for nectar and pollen.

How much sun and water does gopher apple need?

It grows well in part sun with low water needs, making it suited to open, well-drained sandy sites.

What kind of growth habit does gopher apple have?

It is a short, spreading shrub, often only a foot or two tall, that grows from woody underground stems and can form dense low colonies.

Is Gopher Apple HOA-friendly?

Gopher Apple takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Gopher Apple

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Licania michauxii

Last reviewed: September 2026

Gopher apple is a low, spreading shrub that forms colonies in sandy pinelands and scrub of the southeastern coastal plain, blooming from April through June with small white flowers.

Toxicity unknown

Gopher Apple (Licania michauxii) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Light

part sun

Water

low

Size

24"–48" H × 24"–48" W

Bloom

Apr, May, Jun

Native to

AL, FL, GA, LA and 2 more states

Pollinators

bees, beetles

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Southeastern Plains Southern Coastal Plain Southern Florida Coastal Plain

Gopher apple is a low-growing native shrub that forms dense mats of glossy evergreen foliage. It produces small white flowers in spring and early summer, followed by small fruits. This drought-tolerant groundcover works well in sandy soils and coastal conditions.

Growing Gopher Apple

Grow Gopher Apple in part sun and low water. Mature plants reach 24 to 48 inches tall and spread 24 to 48 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Gopher Apple takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

Very informal spreading growth habit
May appear too wild or unstructured for front yards
Dense mat formation can look unkempt to traditional landscaping preferences

Wildlife value

The spring blooms attract native bees and beetles for pollination. The fruits provide food for various wildlife including gopher tortoises, and the dense growth provides shelter for small animals.

Common questions

When does gopher apple bloom?: Gopher apple typically flowers from April through June, producing small white blossoms along its low stems.
What pollinates gopher apple flowers?: The flowers are visited mainly by bees and beetles, which move between the small blooms for nectar and pollen.
How much sun and water does gopher apple need?: It grows well in part sun with low water needs, making it suited to open, well-drained sandy sites.
What kind of growth habit does gopher apple have?: It is a short, spreading shrub, often only a foot or two tall, that grows from woody underground stems and can form dense low colonies.
Is Gopher Apple HOA-friendly?: Gopher Apple takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

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