The Bahama Berry
Discovering a new plant for use as bonsai is quite exciting. For me, the Bahama Berry was especially so, as it seemed perfect. The tiny leaves, flowers and fruit and textured bark were exactly what we look for! Family: Verbenaceae Relative of: Lantana Scientific Name: Nashia inaguensis Native to: The island of Inagua in the Bahamas Common Names: Bahama Berry, 'I Dry, I Die', Moujean Tea, and Pineapple Verbena The Nashia bonsai shown here is one of my first, using this plant. It stands 20 inches tall, from the top of the soil. He was right ... woody trunk, small leaves, tiny flowers and fruit, fast growing and fragrant too! More About Nashia inaguensisWhen brushed or touched the leaves (approximately 1/4 " in length) exude a delightful, spicy aroma. The secondary branches appear in whorls and shoot out long and straight.A fully grown Nashia, with ideal growing conditions, reaches about 7-8 feet in height. Matured in the ground, the trunk develops to two to three inches in diameter.
Shown here, growing in the butterfly garden at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, the Nashia doesn't appear to be much of a prospective bonsai subject. The flowers, however, attract many pollinators especially the Atala butterfly. The soft herbal fragrance may even catch you off guard as you stroll by. Because of its appearance, it may take a much closer look to appreciate the potential and convince you of its value as a bonsai subject. Two Scents in One
During a particularly heavy blooming of one of my Nashia bonsai, I noticed a stronger, sweeter smell. It was the clusters of tiny flowers.
The flowers are even smaller than the leaves, white and very close set in groups on the branch. Two scents on one tree, what a prize. Fruit of the Bahama Berry is smaller still and develops in tiny orange to reddish-orange bead-like clusters.
What to Name it ?Here in the tropics, they are easy to grow and it wasn't long before we developed a number of nice plants. One of our wholesalers in New York - Rhys O'Brien - suggested the existing common names were a bit difficult.He claimed one of his customers called it nausea instead of Nashia! Then Moujean Tea was confused with Fukien Tea (and they're not related). Because of the care difficulty some people had, Barry Lowenthal thought it should be named "I Dry, I Die". Lots of folks still agree. Rhys and I spent some time with humorous bantering over nomenclature, and came up with 'Bahama Berry'. I began selling it under that name and it continues in common use today. Nashia Bonsai CareImportant care information here.
An InvitationCreating Nashia inaguensis as a bonsai tree is not always easy. Do you have a photo of your Nashia success?Would you like to see what others have submitted? You can comment and rate them too! Here's the
Bahama Berry bragging page.
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In its natural habitat the shrub is rangy, and not particularly attractive.
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