Citharexylum spinosum (Florida Fiddlewood)

Citharexylum spinosum (Florida Fiddlewood) is a fast-growing, evergreen, multi-stemmed shrub or tree grown for its attractive foliage, fragrant flowers and berries. Its lush foliage forms a dense, oval crown. The leaves are alternate, simple, spatulate, 2-6 in. long (5-15 cm), dark green to yellow above, paler green underneath. Blooming all year-round, with a peak in spring, sweetly fragrant, trumpet-shaped flowers emerge in clusters on 3-12 in. long (7-30 cm) terminal racemes. They are followed by a crop of round, fleshy, orange berries (drupes) turning reddish brown to almost black as they ripen. The reddish brown to gray bark becomes fissured with age. Fiddlewood provides food and cover for wildlife. The flowers attract butterflies, bees and other pollinators. The berries are devoured by birds and many species of wildlife. Native to Florida, the West Indies, and South America, Fiddlewood is an excellent an accent plant. It makes a nice patio tree planted in the shade of other tall trees. It is also suited for a tall hedge and can be sheared to the desired height, but the flowers and berries would be missed.

• Grows up to 15-35 ft. tall (4.5-10.5 m) and 8-25 ft. wide (2-7.5 m).
• Performs best in partial shade in clay to sandy, well-drained soils. Highly drought tolerant, this plant is also tolerant of dry soils and adapts to a wide range of soil pH including alkaline. Moderate salt tolerance allows planting near the beach.
• No serious pest or disease issues.
• Fiddlewood is most useful planted 6-8 ft. apart (180-240 cm) as a screen or hedge plant.
• Propagate by seed or by cuttings.
• Native to Florida, the West Indies, and South America.