Shittamwood Sideroxylon lanuginosum
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Bumelia lanuginosa
- Phonetic Spelling
- sid-der-ox-ZA-lon lan-ee-gih-NEE-sum
- Description
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Gum bumelia is a deciduous shrub or small to medium tree that is found in the south-central USA and Mexico in the Sapodilla family. It naturally is found at the edges of woodlands, along streams and ponds, and in fencerows and abandoned pastures. The short branches form an oval crown and the tree may reach 45 feet tall and 30 feet wide. The branches often have thorns. The tree flowers in early summer with clusters of small white flowers in the axils of the leaves. Small fruits mature to black in the fall.
This tree does well in sun to part shade in any well-drained soils including rocky ones. It is rarely used in landscapes and may be hard to find. However, it can be utilized in a naturalized setting.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Sideroxylon
- Species:
- lanuginosum
- Family:
- Sapotaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The Kiowa and Comanche tribes use the fruit for food and a substance in the outer bark as chewing gum.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- South central U.S.A. and Mexico
- Distribution:
- AZ , LA , NM , OK , TX
- Wildlife Value:
- Wildlife will eat the fruit and bees visit the flowers
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Food Source
- Edibility:
- Fruit is edible but should be eaten in small quantities to prevent belly aches.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 45 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
- Appendage:
- Thorns
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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:
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Very Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- 24-60 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- 1/2" long slender shiny globular black fruits mature in the fall with a single seed inside. Occurs singly or in groups of 2-3.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Tiny 5-petaled white flowers appear in clusters in leaf axils on short hairy stems.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Insignificant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- 2-3" long and 1 inch wide oblong to obovate are alternate or in clusters on the stem. The tip and base are both tapered. Margins are entire and rolled down. The undersides are hairy. Unexceptional yellow fall color.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Furrowed
- Ridges
- Bark Description:
- The bark is brown to gray with flattened ridges and deep furrows on mature trees
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Zig Zags
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Short stout hairy branches have sharp thorns and exude a milky sap.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Riparian
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Design Feature:
- Small Tree
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Problems:
- Spines/Thorns
