Bahama Berry Bonsai

Introducing the Bahama Berry to the public, as a new bonsai species, was quite exciting.

Here's the story: During a Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden plant distribution day in the 1980s, Dr. Popenoe, a former director of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden was the first to recognize Nashia inaguensis' potential.

He pointed out the woody trunk, small leaves, tiny flowers and fruit to me (I was then the bonsai instructor at Fairchild.)

After some experimenting with times of year and other care aspects, it wasn't long before I had developed a number of nice plants at our Bonsai Bench in Homestead, FL and made them available.

One of the first Bahama Berry bonsai trees exhibited

Family: Verbenaceae

Relative: 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 the first created, using this plant.

It stands 20 inches (51 cm) tall, from the top of the soil.

If you own one of these bonsai, this may be its great, great grandmother.

More About Nashia inaguensis

Bahama Berry, Nashia, growing in Fairchild Tropical Garden

Nashia in butterfly garden at Fairchild Tropical Garden

The tiny flowers attract many pollinators, especially the Atala butterfly, so it has become a desirable addition to tropical gardens.

When brushed or touched the leaves (approximately 1/4 " in length) exude a delightful, spicy aroma. A full-grown Nashia, with ideal growing conditions, reaches about 7- 8 feet in height. Fully matured in the ground, the trunk develops to two to three inches in diameter. In its natural habitat, the shrub is rangy, and not particularly attractive.

At first glance this doesn't appear to be a prospective bonsai subject. It may take a closer look at the textured trunk, the tiny leaves and of course, the wonderful fragrance, to convince you of its bonsai potential.

Two Scents in One!

Nashia flowers

Nashia "berries"

Two scents - from leaves and flowers on one bonsai tree. During a particularly heavy blooming of Nashia bonsai, you may notice a stronger, sweeter smell. It comes from the clusters of tiny flowers. The flowers are even smaller than the leaves, white and very closely set in groups on the branch. The fruit is smaller still. The flowers develop into tiny orange to reddish-orange, bead-like clusters.

Tom Martin grows his 'BaBe' under lights in Utica, NY

The small size of leaves, fruit and flowers make Nashia a perfect subject for miniature bonsai.

What to Name it ?

Because some people had watering difficulties, the late Barry Lowenthal called it "I Dry, I Die. Lots of folks still agree.

In New York - Rhys O'Brien - suggested the existing names were a bit difficult. He claimed one of his customers called it nausea instead of Nashia! Moujean Tea (the name used in the Bahamas) was confused with Fukien Tea (they're not related.)

Rhys and I spent some time bantering over nomenclature, and came up with 'Bahama Berry.' The Bonsai Bench began selling it under that name and it continues in common use today.