Leatherwood Cyrilla racemiflora
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Leatherwood:
- Phonetic Spelling
- sir-RIL-ah rah-see-MIH-flor-ah
- Description
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Swamp Cyrilla, or Titi, is an evergreen or tardily deciduous tree that may grow 20 to 30 feet tall. The leaves are alternate with smooth margins. The bark is gray in color with a rigid and spongy appearance. In summer, small, white flowers mature in 3- to 6-inch clusters. The small tree produces a dry, 2-celled capsule.
Fire Risk: This plant has a medium flammability rating.
Seasons of Interest:
Leaf: Blooms: Summer Nut/Fruit/Seed: Fall
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cyrilla
- Species:
- racemiflora
- Family:
- Cyrillaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- southeastern U.S.A., NC to Tropical America
- Distribution:
- AL , DE , FL , GA , LA , MS , NC , SC , TX , VA
- Fire Risk Rating:
- medium flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- It provides great cover during extreme weather. Butterflies and bees feed on the nectar from the flowers. Bees produce a dark honey from this tree. Mammals eat the fruits. Its foliage is browsed by white-tailed deer.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 8 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Shrub
- Tree
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- 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:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- 24-60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- Usda Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Yellow-brown capsule ovoid, dry, 1/12 inch long, containing 1-5 seeds, but ending up with only 1 seed maturing. Persists into winter.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Description:
- Profuse 3-6 in. drooping sprays or racemes of white fragrant flowers late spring into summer (May, June, July) produced on stalks from last year's growth. The flower stalks are subtended by slender bracts.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Alternate, simple, oblanceolate (having a rounded apex and tapering base) to oval, rounded or pointed at the tip, narrowed to the base leaves. The leaves are thick, without teeth, smooth and sometimes nearly evergreen. They are also reticulate (net-like)-veined, up to 4 inches long, up to 1 inch wide. The leaves are bright green below and gradually becomes canary yellow to orange burgundy in the fall.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Smooth cinnamon-colored bark
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Pond
- Riparian
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer