How much sun does Keys blackbead need?

Keys blackbead grows best in full sun conditions.

When does Keys blackbead bloom?

Keys blackbead blooms in March, April, May, and June.

Where is Keys blackbead native?

Keys blackbead (Pithecellobium keyense) is native to FL, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).

What butterflies or moths does Keys blackbead host?

Keys blackbead is a larval host plant for Cassius blue.

Keys blackbead

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Pithecellobium keyense

Last reviewed: October 2026

Keys blackbead (Pithecellobium keyense) is a perennial shrub native to FL. It blooms in March, April, May, and June. The flowers draw bees and butterflies.

Toxicity unknown

Keys blackbead (Pithecellobium keyense) 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

full sun

Water

low

Size

72"–180" H × 72"–144" W

Bloom

Mar, Apr, May, Jun

Native to

Pollinators

bees, butterflies

Before you buy

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Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 460 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Southern Florida Coastal Plain

Thorny evergreen shrub with compound leaves and fluffy, white pompom-shaped flower clusters, followed by twisted seed pods. Found in coastal hammocks and pinelands.

Growing Keys blackbead

Grow Keys blackbead in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 72 to 180 inches tall and spread 72 to 144 inches wide.

Wildlife value

Host plant for Cassius blue.

Larval host plant for the Cassius blue butterfly; flowers attract bees and butterflies.

Common questions

How much sun does Keys blackbead need?: Keys blackbead grows best in full sun conditions.
When does Keys blackbead bloom?: Keys blackbead blooms in March, April, May, and June.
Where is Keys blackbead native?: Keys blackbead (Pithecellobium keyense) is native to FL, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
What butterflies or moths does Keys blackbead host?: Keys blackbead is a larval host plant for Cassius blue.

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

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

See all plant problem guides

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