Spanish Stopper, Delivered and Planted in SW Florida
A Florida native with dark, glossy leaves, Spanish stopper does very well in Southwest Florida, including salty coastal and canal lots. It is slow to moderate, drought tolerant and popular with birds, and it works as a small shade tree or a screen. We deliver and plant 25 gallon trees.
- Light:
- Full sun to part shade
- Water:
- Low once established; drought tolerant
- Salt:
- High; handles coastal and canal exposure
Spanish Stopper sizes we deliver and plant
Every size below is planted by our crew, set at the right depth and watered in. Send the size and how many, and we text back a planted price, usually within the hour during the day.
| Plant | Sizes |
|---|---|
| Spanish Stopper | 25 Gallon |
Spanish Stopper in SW Florida, at a glance
- Mature size here
- 10 to 20 ft tall and 6 to 10 ft wide
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Low once established; drought tolerant
- Salt tolerance
- High; handles coastal and canal exposure
- Cold tolerance
- Leaves can burn near 30°F; coastal Lee is usually fine, cover young trees inland on frost nights
- Growth rate
- Slow to moderate
- Spacing
- 8 to 10 ft apart for a screen
- Florida native
- Yes, Florida native
- Botanical name
- Eugenia foetida
Where Spanish Stopper works in a SW Florida yard
Spanish stopper fits native and coastal landscapes as a small shade tree, a screen along a fence, or an anchor in a mixed native bed. Its dense, glossy foliage handles wind and salt, and the small white flowers and berries draw pollinators and birds.
It takes pruning if you want a tighter form. Pair it with wild coffee, simpson stopper and firebush for a layered native planting.
- Native screening tree
- Coastal and canal lots
- Bird and wildlife tree
- Small shade tree
How our crew plants it
Spanish stopper goes in with the root flare slightly above grade, in a hole twice as wide as the root ball and no deeper. Our crew backfills with native sand, waters it in and cleans up, and stakes only if the site is windy.
Mulch 2 to 3 inches, off the trunk. Lee and Collier schedules allow extra watering for new plantings.
Care after planting
- Water regularly while it establishes, then rely on rain and your assigned days, since it is drought tolerant once rooted.
- Prune lightly in spring to shape it or raise the canopy, and thin the crown before hurricane season so wind can pass through.
- A native like this needs little feeding: one light spring application, and no nitrogen or phosphorus from June 1 to September 30 under the Lee County, Naples and Marco Island ban.
- Keep mulch off the trunk.
Spanish Stopper questions we hear
Is Spanish stopper native to Florida?+
Yes. Spanish stopper is a native of Florida's coastal hammocks and shell mounds, which is why it handles salt, wind and poor sandy soil so well. It is a good fit for native plantings and for yards that want to feed birds.
Is Spanish stopper salt tolerant?+
Yes, it is one of the better native choices for coastal and canal lots, handling salt spray and coastal wind. Keep it out of standing salt water, and give new trees regular fresh water until they root in.
How big does Spanish stopper get?+
Plan on 10 to 20 ft tall and 6 to 10 ft wide, usually as a rounded small tree or a large shrub. It grows slowly to moderately, so a 25 gallon tree gives you a head start on screening or shade.
Updated October 2026
Get a planted price on Spanish Stopper
Tell us what and how many. Quinten prices it from the nursery's live list and texts you back, usually within the hour during the day.
Only need the plant delivered, no planting? It is on our nursery's list at Palm & Plant Co.
Also worth a look
More like this
All shade trees
The service
Tree and shrub installation
Planning a whole yard
See it in 3D first
We deliver and plant across Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples, Estero, Bonita Springs and about an hour around.