Rusty lyonia
Lyonia ferruginea
Last reviewed: August 2026
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
120"–300" H × 96"–180" W
Bloom
Feb, Mar, Apr
Native to
FL, GA, SC
Pollinators
bees
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 431 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaRusty lyonia, also called staggerbush, is an evergreen shrub with gnarled, twisting branches, rust-colored leaf undersides, and clusters of small white to pink urn-shaped flowers. It grows in sandy scrub and pine flatwoods.
Wildlife value
Bees visit the urn-shaped flowers for nectar. The foliage contains compounds toxic to grazing animals, the source of the staggerbush name, so it is not a browse plant.
Common questions
- How much sun does Rusty lyonia need?
- Rusty lyonia grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Rusty lyonia bloom?
- Rusty lyonia blooms in February, March, and April.
- Where is Rusty lyonia native?
- Rusty lyonia (Lyonia ferruginea) is native to FL, GA, SC, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
- What pollinators does Rusty lyonia attract?
- Rusty lyonia draws bees.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
Ready to grow Rusty lyonia? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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