Gopher Apple
Licania michauxii
Varieties We Bring In
Last received Mar 9, 2026.
We bring this in seasonally, so what is on the lot changes week to week. A received date shows when it last came in, not that it is here today.
Call (904) 471-0440 to confirm this plant and size before you make the trip.
About Gopher Apple
Gopher Apple (Geobalanus oblongifolius) is a native Florida groundcover shrub that spreads by an extensive underground root system, forming low colonies of leathery oblong leaves in dry, sandy upland habitats. Small white flowers are followed by plum-like fruits eaten by gopher tortoises, black bears, and other wildlife. Starting at $9.95.
Plant details
- Bloom Season
- Spring
- Flower Color
- White
- Growth Rate
- Slow
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Soil
- Sandy, Well-drained
Best planting months
Seasonal care
Bloom season. Good planting window.
Handles summer heat well once established.
Ideal planting window.
Retains foliage through winter.
Care essentials
Plant in full sun to part sun; Gopher Apple thrives in open, sunny sandy uplands and longleaf pine habitat across north Florida, spreading by underground stems into stable colonies.
Extremely drought-tolerant once established; this deep-rooted native requires no supplemental irrigation in NE Florida and will decline in poorly drained or regularly irrigated sites.
Requires infertile, well-drained sandy soil — do not amend with compost or fertilize; Geobalanus oblongifolius is adapted to Florida's nutrient-poor sandhill soils and poor drainage will kill it.
Similar needs
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Carolina Wild Petunia
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Common Mallow
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Coral Bean
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Common questions
Is Gopher Apple a good plant for St. Augustine?
Gopher Apple is a groundcover for Zone 9b coastal Florida gardens, with high salt tolerance, reaching 0.5-1 feet × 6-10 feet.
Care information verified from
Last reviewed February 2026. Our care guidance comes from trusted horticulture sources and decades of helping St. Augustine gardeners. Conditions here can vary dramatically from one area to the next, so come ask us and we'll tailor it to your yard.