Simpson’s Stopper Moves Florida Landscapes Forward with Style

Simpson's Stopper Florida
An easy-care Florida native, Simpson’s Stopper can be grown as a shrub, tree or lush hedge and requires almost no maintenance once established.

Simpson’s Stopper is one of those Florida native plants that often has to have its odd name explained. So let’s stop and talk about the stopper.

Many different subspecies exist, but Myrcianthes fragrans is the true Simpson’s Stopper. “Stopper” refers to how the plant was once used as a treatment for diarrhea. Also, its multiple trunks and dense structure stop people from walking through it. “Simpson” pays homage to Charles Torrey Simpson, a botanist and naturalist who lived in Southeast Florida in the early 1900s. Now that we have the name out of the way, let’s pick up some speed.

Why Simpson’s Stopper will stop you in your tracks.

ArtisTree Landscape Maintenance and Design loves the Simpson’s Stopper for its versatile good looks and low maintenance requirements. We’ve installed it as a small ornamental tree, a large specimen shrub and as a beautiful, thick buffer hedge. In every instance, this cold-hardy evergreen has never disappointed. Some homeowners like to keep it sheared (envision a stately pair at the front entrance of a formal landscape design), while others prefer a more casual look – perhaps as an airy, untrimmed shrub to soften the corners of a cottage-style home. Either way, they’re slow growers and don’t require a lot of close attention or maintenance, which is why we often consider them when creating a beautiful Florida landscape design.

Simpson's Stopper white blossoms red berries
Fragrant white blossoms give way to pollinator-enticing bright berries.

Fragrant white flowers bloom in Florida’s April and May months, attracting pollinators galore. In summer and fall, berries turn bright red as they mature, which doesn’t go unnoticed by a variety of hungry bird species. (Humans can eat the fruit’s not-so-palatable flesh but should stay away from the bitter seeds.) Exfoliating bark flakes off to reveal pretty reddish-brown shades underneath. Incorporating native Florida plants into your home’s landscape plan is an excellent way to add sustainable design to your home’s landscape or garden, with Simpson’s Stopper being just one good example.

Simpson’s Stopper planting requirements

These untrimmed Simpson’s Stoppers serve as a casual privacy buffer for Southwest Florida residents in Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties.

For profuse blooms and a more compact form, plant your Simpson’s Stopper in full sun or partial shade. If you plant it in full shade, it will grow more vertically and have a somewhat thin, messy appearance. These perennials will reach up to 20-feet tall, which means they’ll also look great as a specimen tree or background shrub. And since they’re resilient Florida native plants, soil’s not an issue. (They grow naturally in seaside hammocks and will tolerate salt and alkaline conditions.) Once established, Simpson’s Stopper requires little to no additional irrigation. You don’t have to worry too much about insect/disease problems, either. Just occasionally check them for fungus and that’s about it.

Contact ArtisTree Landscape Maintenance & Design

Don’t let the Simpson’s Stopper get away! Call ArtisTree to discuss your landscape vision with one of our award-winning designers. ArtisTree is nationally ranked and proudly serves Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties. Let’s get your dream renovation off the ground.

ArtisTree Landscape Florida, Sarasota landscape designers

ArtisTree also provides custom proposals to landscape-maintained HOA communities throughout Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties.

Contact Michael Casper at 941.488.8897 to get your proposal started.

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