Black Titi Cliftonia monophylla
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Black Titi:
- Phonetic Spelling
- klif-TOH-nee-ah mon-oh-FYE-lah
- Description
-
The Buckwheat Tree is a perennial, flowering, evergreen shrub in leaf all year and producing fragrant flowers briefly in the Spring. It is native to the Southeastern United States and often found in the damp, sandy, peat soils of swamps and bays that are free from mud, lime, sulphur and salt. At maturity, the plant typically reaches a height of 18 feet (although some specimens grow to 45 feet) with a crooked, multi-stemmed form. This plant colonizes and can often form thickets if not trimmed. The plant is noted for its attractive, dark, shiny, thick leaves and white to pinkish, fragrant flower clusters.
The Buckwheat Tree does best in full sun to partial shade in moist to wet, well drained, sandy soil. The soil should be acidic and can be amended with additional leafmould. The Buckwheat Tree is not particularly cold hardy, but can be grown where frosts are light and short. It may require protection when temperatures dip.
The Buckwheat Tree can be hard to find in commercial nurseries; however, 'Chipola Pink', a cultivar with pink flowers is sometimes available.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No known diseases or insect pest problems. The plant does not tolerate competition from other trees or shrubs.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Chipola Pink'
A cultivar with pink flowers.
- 'Chipola Pink'
- 'Chipola Pink'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Chipola Pink'
A cultivar with pink flowers.
- 'Chipola Pink'
- 'Chipola Pink'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cliftonia
- Species:
- monophylla
- Family:
- Cyrillaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The wood of this plant is hard, but brittle. It burns with a bright flame and is often used as firewood.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeastern regions of the United States; Louisiana to Florida.
- Distribution:
- Southeastern United States, north to South Carolina.
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers attract bees and is a honey plant for bees.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 12 ft. 0 in. - 18 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Multi-stemmed
- Multi-trunked
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Wet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits are five winged drupes, yellowish and buckwheat shaped; hence the common name.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- This plant has 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 inch fragrant, white or rose flowers that bloom in spring. Conspicuous anthers are orange-colored. Flowers are arranged in upright racemes at the ends of the branches. Each flower has five white petals. The flowers are an important nectar source for bees.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- This plant has opposite, simple, 1 to 2 inch lustrous, dark green leaves, shiny above and lighter green or whitish below.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Small Tree
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Pollinators
