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Anderson, Wynn

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.

From the Image Gallery

6 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Fruit Type: Drupe
Size Notes: Up to about 18 feet tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White
Bloom Time: Feb , Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug

Distribution

USA: TX
Native 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: Low
Light 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, Attractive
Use Wildlife: Nectar-insects, Fruit-birds
Fragrant Flowers: yes
Attracts: Butterflies
Nectar Source: yes

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds

From 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 Center

1 collection(s) available in the Wildflower Center Seed Bank

Bibliography

Bibref 293 - Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas (1979) Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston
Bibref 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 Chapter
Webref 1 - Texas Native Shrubs (2002) Texas A&M University Agriculture Program and Leslie Finical, Dallas Arboretum

Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2025-04-03
Research By: NPC

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