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Citharexylum berlandieri
Citharexylum berlandieri B.L. Rob.
Berlandier's Fiddlewood, Berlandier Fiddlewood, Fiddlewood
Verbenaceae (Verbena Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: CIBE
USDA Native Status: L48 (N)
This species is a member of the verbena family (family Verbenaceae), which includes about 75 genera and 3,000 species of herbs, shrubs, and trees, mostly of tropical and warm temperate regions. Among them, teak is a highly prized furniture wood, and Vervain, Lantana, Lippia or Frog Fruit, and Chase Tree or Vitex are grown as ornamentals. Named for French-Swiss physician Jean Louis Berlandier (1805-1851) who colledted plants in Texas and northern Mexico.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Fruit Type: Drupe
Size Notes: Up to about 18 feet tall.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: WhiteBloom Time: Feb , Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug
Distribution
USA: TXNative Distribution: Citharexylum berlandieri grows in well drained clay and clay-loam soil. It is found in thickets, flats, hillsides, and semi-desert roadsides in the Rio Grande Plains.
Native Habitat: Thickets
Growing Conditions
Water Use: LowLight Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Clay Loam, Clay.
Conditions Comments: Citharexylum berlandieri can be grown from seed collected after the fruit has turned black. It can also be propagated from cuttings. The shrub blooms several times a year with small white fragrant flowers. The flowers attract butterflies. It produces spikes of glossy orange-red berries that are visually striking against the dark green foliage.
Benefit
Use Ornamental: Aromatic, Fruits ornamental, Blooms ornamental, Fast growing, AttractiveUse Wildlife: Nectar-insects, Fruit-birds
Fragrant Flowers: yes
Attracts: Butterflies
Nectar Source: yes
Propagation
Propagation Material: SeedsFrom the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Naval Air Station Kingsville - Kingsville, TX
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Austin, TX
National Butterfly Center - Mission, TX
NPSOT - Williamson County Chapter - Georgetown, TX
Wildflower Center Seed Bank
LBJWC-1071 Collected 2007-05-23 in Cameron County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower CenterBibliography
Bibref 293 - Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas (1979) Correll, D. S. & M. C. JohnstonBibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Bibref 291 - Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender
Search More Titles in Bibliography
Web Reference
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona ChapterWebref 1 - Texas Native Shrubs (2002) Texas A&M University Agriculture Program and Leslie Finical, Dallas Arboretum
Additional resources
USDA: Find Citharexylum berlandieri in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Citharexylum berlandieri in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Citharexylum berlandieri
Metadata
Record Modified: 2025-04-03Research By: NPC