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Native Plant Database

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Cliftonia monophylla (Buckwheat tree)
Bloodworth, Stefan

Cliftonia monophylla (Lam.) Britt. ex Sarg.

Buckwheat tree, Buckwheat bush

Cyrillaceae (Titi Family)

USDA Symbol: CLMO2

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

A thicket-forming shrub or small tree to 12-18 ft. with attractive, dark, shiny, thick leaves and white to pinkish, terminal or axillary, fragrant flower clusters. Conspicuous anthers are orange-colored. Fruits are yellowish and buckwheat-like.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Margin: Entire
Breeding System: Flowers Bisexual
Fruit:
Size Class: 12-36 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Pink
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr

Distribution

USA: AL , FL , GA , LA , MS , SC
Native Distribution: Coastal plain from GA to FL & LA
Native Habitat: Acid swamps, bogs & wet ditches
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Wet
Soil Description: Wet, acid peaty or sandy soil.
Conditions Comments: Does not tolerate competition from other trees or shrubs. No serious disease or insect problems.

Propagation

Description: Increase by cuttings taken in mid-summer.
Seed Collection: Not Available
Seed Treatment: Not Available
Commercially Avail: yes

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Crosby Arboretum - Picayune, MS

Bibliography

Bibref 996 - Gardening with Native Plants of the South (1994) Wasowski, Sally and Andy Wasowski

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Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Cliftonia monophylla in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Cliftonia monophylla in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Cliftonia monophylla

Metadata

Record Modified: 2009-02-18
Research By: TWC Staff

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