General Landscape Uses:
Specimen or screen plant.
Availability:
Rarely grown by native plant nurseries.
Description: Deciduous shrub or small tree to 25 feet with stiff, shiny green leaves 1-3 inches long. Often has 1.5 inch sharp spines.
Dimensions: Typically 25 feet in height, up to 32 feet. As broad or broader than tall.
Growth Rate: Moderate.
Range:
Southeastern United States south to Volusia, Alachua, and Levy counties.
Map of select IRC data from peninsular Florida.
Habitats: Moist woodlands
Soils: Moist, well-drained sandy or limestone soils, with humusy top layer.
Nutritional Requirements: Moderate; can grow in nutrient poor soils, but needs some organic content to thrive.
Salt Water Tolerance: Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance: Low; salt wind may burn the leaves.
Drought Tolerance: Moderate; generally requires moist soils, but tolerant of short periods of drought once established.
Light Requirements: Light shade.
Flower Color: Pinkish white
Flower Characteristics: Showy.
Flowering Season: Spring.
Fruit: Tiny, red.
Wildlife and Ecology: Attracts pollinators. Provides food and cover for wildlife.
References: Huegel (
2010), Nelson (
1994)
Comments: We have been adding data for this species for central and northern Florida and welcome any feedback or review. If you would like to contribute information or images, please contact George Gann via the IRC staff page.
