General Landscape Uses:
Small specimen tree in moist areas.
Availability:
Commonly available at native plant nurseries in central Florida. Available at native plant nurseries in northeast Florida.
Description: Small deciduous tree up to 25 feet tall with thorny branches and 1/2 to 2 inch long leaves that look like parsley leaves. Small white to pinkish flowers.
Dimensions: Up to 25 feet in height.
Growth Rate: Moderate.
Range:
Southeastern United States south to St. Johns, Polk, and Hillsborough counties, but scattered in central and northern Florida.
Map of select IRC data from peninsular Florida.
Map of suggested ZIP codes from South Florida north to southern Brevard, Osceola, Polk, and Pasco counties.
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: White
Flower Characteristics: Showy.
Flowering Season: Spring.
Fruit: Small bright red.
Wildlife and Ecology: Attracts pollinators. Provides food and cover for wildlife. Larval plant for gray hairstreak (Strymon melinus) butterfly.
References: Huegel (
2010), Osorio (
2001), Nelson
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. See also the Florida Wildflower Foundation's
Flower Friday page.
