Plants usually shrubs or trees to 6 m tall, occasionally vines,usually unarmed, sometimes with spines 0.5-3cm long; branches flexible, young branches pubescent, striate, sometimes angular. Leaves petiolate, petioles 1-12 mm long; blades 1.5-7 cm long, 1.5-3 cm wide, obovate to spathulate or elliptic, membranous to chartaceous, base attenuate, margins entire or with small irregular teeth distally, tip acute, acuminate, or apiculate, both surfaces initially glabrous or sparsely hairy with short, appressed hairs, becoming glabrous at maturity. Inflorescences racemes 5-22 cm long, terminal and axillary, sometimes appearing paniculate, frequently recurved or pendulous; pedicels 1-5 mm long; subtending bracts 3-4 mm long; calyces 3-7 mm long, narrowly tubular, top truncate with 5 small teeth; corollas 8-12 mm long, bilaterally symmetric, blue, lilac or white, the tube 7-10 mm long, lobes 5, 3-5 mm long, unequal; stamens 2.5-3 mm long; ovary subglobose, style 2.5-3 mm long, stigmatic region small. Drupes 6-8 mm long, shiny yellow to orange, the calyx accrescent at the base.
Duranta erecta is native from Mexico to Brazil and Paraguay but is now widely cultivated.
Habit: shrubs or trees.
Leaves: obovate to spathulate ir elliptic, glabrous at maturity.
Inflorescences: racenes 5-22 cm long, terminal and axillary, sometimes appearing paniculate.
Flowers: billaterally symmetic, 7-10 mm acros, blue, violet, or white.
Fruits: golden yellow to orange drupes with accrescent calyces.
Duranta erecta is native to the Americas but is sometimes grown as an ornamental. It has been declared a noxious weed in many countries and its planting outside the Americas is discouraged.
Duranta erecta is POISONOUS to humans, goats, and, presumably, many other animals. It may just make them sick but can kill young or sick humans and animals. Leaves, bark, and fruits are all poisonous. It has become a weed in many parts of the world where it has been introduced and is considered a noxious weed in several countries. The seeds are spread by animals and may also be carried downstream by water.
Although Duranta erecta is frequently used as an ornamental plant, its use in countries where nomadic pastoralism is prevalent should be discouraged.