General Landscape Uses:
Specimen tree, highway plantings.
Availability:
Available at native plant nurseries in northeast and central Florida.
Description: Deciduous shrub or small tree 3-20 feet tall with a crooked trunk and rounded crown. Thorny branches have 1-2 inch leaves. Profuse fragrant white flowers in the spring and red fruits in the summers.
Dimensions: Typically 3-20 feet in height. Taller than broad.
Range:
Eastern United States south to northern Florida, where scattered south to Alachua County.
Map of select IRC data from peninsular Florida.
Habitats: Open, upland hammocks.
Soils: Dry to moist, well-drained sandy soils, with humusy top layer.
Nutritional Requirements: Low to moderate; it can grow in nutrient poor soils or soils with some organic content.
Salt Water Tolerance: Low; does not tolerate flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance: Low; salt wind may burn the leaves.
Drought Tolerance: High; does not require any supplemental water once established.
Light Requirements: Full sun to light shade.
Flower Color: White
Flower Characteristics: Showy.
Flowering Season: Spring.
Fruit: 1/2 inch red pome.
Wildlife and Ecology: Attracts pollinators. Provides food and cover for wildlife.
References: Wunderlin and Hansen (
2011), Huegel 2010
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.
