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Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Cliftonia monophylla (Buckwheat tree)
Cressler, Alan

Cliftonia monophylla

Cliftonia monophylla (Lam.) Britton ex Sarg.

Buckwheat Tree, Buckwheat Bush

Cyrillaceae (Cyrilla Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: CLMO2

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

A thicket-forming shrub or small tree to 12-18 ft., sometimes more, 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

6 photo(s) available in 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 Type: Samara
Size Notes: Up to about 45 feet tall, often much shorter.

Bloom Information

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

Distribution

USA: AL , FL , GA , LA , MS , SC
Native Distribution: Coastal plain from GA to FL & LA
Native Habitat: Acid swamps, bogs & wet ditches

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.
Commercially Avail: yes

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:AGCPAKAWCBEMPGPHIMWNCNEWMVE
Status: OBL OBL
This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Crosby Arboretum - Picayune, MS
Mt. Cuba Center - Hockessin, DE

Bibliography

Bibref 1620 - Gardening with Native Plants of the South (Reprint Edition) (2009) Wasowski, S. with A. Wasowski

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 3 - Flora of North America (2014) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.

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: 2022-10-03
Research By: TWC Staff

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