Keys blackbead
Pithecellobium keyense
Last reviewed: September 2026
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
FL
Pollinators
bees, butterflies
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaBrowse plants for this ecoregion
Thorny evergreen shrub with compound leaves and fluffy, white pompom-shaped flower clusters, followed by twisted seed pods. Found in coastal hammocks and pinelands.
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.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Keys blackbead? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
Planning a bed around it? Start a free plan with this plant
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