Clusia Guttifera is a versatile, low-maintenance evergreen shrub prized for its thick, leathery teardrop-shaped foliage and exceptional adaptability. Sold in a 10-inch grower's pot, this plant is an excellent choice for Florida and tropical landscapes where privacy hedges, accent plantings, or windbreaks are desired.

Sometimes called Small Leaf Clusia, Clusia Guttifera is salt-tolerant and drought-tolerant once established, making it well-suited for coastal and seaside properties. It thrives in full sun to part shade and performs best in USDA Zone 10, though it can be kept as a container plant in Zone 9B and moved indoors during cold spells. It is a moderate to fast grower that can be kept at 5 to 6 feet tall with regular trimming, or allowed to grow considerably larger as a natural privacy screen.

For best results, plant with composted cow manure amended into the soil and water regularly during the first year while the plant establishes. Once mature, water during dry spells only. Fertilize three times per year in spring, summer, and fall with a granular fertilizer. Prune with branch trimming only rather than cutting across foliage. Ideal companion plants include ornamental grasses, agave, and other drought-tolerant tropicals.

Note: Clusia species are considered toxic to animals including horses and pets; keep out of reach of animals.