General Landscape Uses:
Small, flowering tree.
Availability:
Commonly available at native plant nurseries in northeast Florida.
Description: Small, short-trunked deciduous tree with a broad, open crown, and attractive reddish brown scaly bark. 15-25 feet tall. Small, shiny green leaves, showy, bright pink, fragrant flowers and small yellowish "apples." Can form thickets.
Dimensions: Typically 15-25 feet in height, taller than broad.
Growth Rate: Slow.
Range:
Southern United States scattered south to Washington to Taylor counties and a population in Hamilton county. For a digitized image of Elbert Little's Florida range map, visit the
Exploring Florida website.
Map of select IRC data from peninsular Florida.
Habitats: Dry calcareous hammocks.
Soils: Dry to moist, well-drained limestone or calcareous sandy 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 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: Full sun to light shade.
Flower Color: Bright pink to almost white.
Flower Characteristics: Showy.
Flowering Season: Midspring.
Fruit: Small, yellowish "apple" in the fall.
Wildlife and Ecology: Provides food for wildlife.
Horticultural Notes: Should be grown in open spaces with good air circulation to avoid disease. Twigs can have occasional thorns.
References: Mellichamp (
2014), Nelson (
2003)
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.
