Overview:

Botanical Names: Duranta repens

Common Name: Golden Dewdrop, Sky Flower, Pigeon Berry

Family: Verbenaceae

Plant Type: Small - Medium Shrub


Golden dewdrop is one of my favorite plants to use in my landscape designs. Here are some reasons why:

1. Fast Growth and Easy Propagation

I love the golden dewdrop for its rapid growth and easy propagation. The plant quickly regenerates new branches and leaves. If you cut off a section of a stem, it can grow two or more new shoots below the cut. This strong regeneration and branching ability allows you to easily prune and shape the plant without worrying about killing it. Additionally, you can easily propagate the plant by stem cuttings. Simply cut a stem, plant it in the soil, and you'll have a whole new Golden dewdrop garden.

Due to this rapid regeneration, Golden dewdrop is widely used for shaping in landscaping. In Vietnam, it is mainly used to create borders around architectural structures or around flower beds. In some projects, the plant is also used to cover large areas (groundcover) or to be pruned into letters or any other desired shape.


2. Low Cost

For projects that require cost optimization, Golden dewdrop is an excellent choice. Since the plant can be propagated by stem cuttings, you can create a large number of seedlings at low cost and in a short time frame. This helps to reduce overall costs. Additionally, replacing dead plants is easier and less expensive, or even free, as you can use healthy branches from nearby plants to fill in the gaps.

3. Adaptable to Vietnamese Climate and Environment

Golden dewdrop is a plant that prefers bright light or partial shade, making it ideal for Vietnam's hot and sunny climate. As long as it is watered regularly and planted in an area with sufficient sunlight, the plant will thrive. It also requires little fertilizer and can withstand drought for a certain period. These advantages have made it a very popular plant in Vietnam.


4. Versatile in Design

Golden dewdrop has beautiful yellow-green leaves, making it ideal for planting as a border or groundcover, giving us many options for combining plants. The fact that the plant can be pruned into shapes allows landscape designers to be more creative, resulting in interesting and eye-catching designs. The distinctive yellow-green leaf color can also be used to create focal points.


However, the plant also has some drawbacks:

1. Prone to Death in the Early Stages

In my experience, although the plant can withstand drought for a certain period, if it is not watered enough in the early stages when the plant is still young, the death rate can be quite high. Therefore, during the early stages of propagation, the plant needs a soil environment that is moist but not too wet or dry (which can lead to root rot and plant death). It is also advisable to provide some shade, as the leaves are still young and easily scorched by sunlight.

2. Requires Regular Pruning

Due to its rapid growth, the branches grow very quickly. If you want to maintain the desired shape, you need to prune it regularly. This process needs to be repeated throughout the year, especially during the rainy season when the plant grows and develops the most. If not pruned for a while, the plant will grow into a bushy mess and lose its original shape. Additionally, the leaves will age and turn dark green, losing their distinctive yellow-green color.

Attention please!

All the photos in this article were taken by myself and are my property. Copying is strictly prohibited in any form. If you need these photos for your studies or research, please contact me via email: contact.bamatustudio@gmail.com

The content of this article is based on my personal observations and references from various online sources. Therefore, it may not be entirely accurate. The content of this post is for reference and entertainment purposes only. I do not guarantee the completeness, accuracy, or timeliness of the information, and I will not be responsible for any consequences of using this information.

Author: Ngô Mạnh Tường at BamatuStudio