Shrub to 5 m or so tall, sometimes scrambling, spiny. Leaves to about 6 cm long, ovate to obovate, long-pointed or blunt, entire or toothed; stalk to about 1.5 cm long. Flower clusters with numerous flowers. Corolla mostly lilac, occasionally white. Fruit about 1 cm wide, spherical, succulent, yellow. [D. plumieri Jacq., D. repens L.]

Tropical America

A popular garden plant of the tropics but will grow well in Melbourne's climate.

Source: Spencer, R. (2002). Verbenaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 4. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 3. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.