General Landscape Uses:
Specimen and shade tree.
Availability:
Widely available in central Florida. Commonly available at native plant nurseries in northeast Florida. Available at native plant nurseries in South Florida.
Description: Large, stately evergreen tree 30-100 feet tall with a conical crown. Leaves are 6-10 inches long, dark green and shiny with a rusty orange to brownish underside. Large, fragrant flowers in the spring and summer 12 inches wide.
Dimensions: Typically 30-100 feet in height, can be as broad as tall.
Growth Rate: Moderately fast.
Range:
Southern United States south to Manatee, Polk, Glades, and Indian River counties. For a digitized image of Elbert Little's Florida range map, visit the
Exploring Florida website.
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.
Map of ZIP codes with habitat recommendations from the Monroe County Keys north to Martin and Charlotte counties.
Habitats: Well-drained woodlands, mesic hammocks, slope forests.
Soils: Moist, well-drained sandy or limestone soils, with humusy top layer and acid pH.
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: Moderate; grows near salt water, but is protected from direct salt spray by other vegetation.
Drought Tolerance: Moderate; generally requires moist soils, but tolerant of short periods of drought once established.
Light Requirements: Full sun to light shade.
Flower Color: Creamy white.
Flower Characteristics: Showy.
Flowering Season: Spring.
Fruit: Conspicuous, fuzzy, cone-like, 2-6 inches long with bright red seeds.
Wildlife and Ecology: Provides significant food and cover for wildlife. Attracts pollinators.
References: Nelson (
2003), Schaefer & Tanner 1997
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.
