Pigeonberry
Rivina humilisPigeonberry is a groundcover native to the Texas Hill Country that grows 1–1.5 ft tall and 2 ft wide. It wants shade and medium water, and handles clay soil. Blooms white and pink in Mar–Oct. Good for birds.
Toxic — people, pets. Berries toxic; low and fruiting where toddlers reach.
Will it grow in your yard?
Enter your ZIP. The finder checks Pigeonberry against your microclimate, then ranks it against your sun, your watering and deer pressure.
From our guide
Village of the HillsLow spreading perennial with small pink-white flower spikes and translucent red berries, often simultaneously.
Why it works here
One of very few things that flowers and fruits in deep shade. Berries are heavily used by birds.
Watch out
Goes dormant in dry summers without water. Reseeds where it is happy.
The facts
7 sources- Type
- Groundcover
- Sun
- Shade (under 3 hrs)
- Water
- Medium
- Height
- 1–1.5 ft
- Spread
- 2 ft
- Bloom
- Mar–Oct · white, pink
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Soil
- Takes clay · recorded on clay, loam, moist, rocky, sand
- Deer
- Moderate — deer may browse it, especially new growth. Occasionally browsed
- Wildlife
- Supports birds
Where it grows
Recorded in these EPA Level IV ecoregions in the Austin and Hill Country launch area:
2,696 occurrence records in Central Texas (GBIF).
Can you buy it?
In the Village of the Hills guide, but not on the grower stock lists we read yet. Ask a native-plant nursery.
also grows from seed It starts readily from seed, so a packet from a native-seed supplier, or seed collected with permission, is often the easiest way to get a plant no nursery pots.