General Landscape Uses:
Foundation plant or understory shrub.
Availability:
Rarely grown by native plant nurseries.
Description: Deciduous shrub 8-10 feet tall with flexible twigs. Leaves 2-3 inches long, and small yellow flowers appearing before the leaves.
Dimensions: Typically 8-10 feet tall in height.
Growth Rate: Moderate.
Range:
Northern and Central United States, scattered through the Carolinas and Alabama to Jackson, Gadsden, and Liberty counties.
Map of select IRC data from peninsular Florida.
Habitats: Bluff forests and riverbanks
Soils: Moist, well-drained 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 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: Moderate shade to light shade.
Flower Color: Yellow
Flower Characteristics: Semi-showy.
Flowering Season: Early spring.
Fruit: Round, greenish yellow berrylike drupes.
References: Mellichamp (
2014), Wunderlin and Hansen 2011
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.
