Buckthorn Bumelia Sideroxylon lycioides
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Bumelia cassinifolia
- Bumelia lycioides
- Bumelia smallii
- Phonetic Spelling
- sid-der-ox-ZY-lon ly-see-OY-deez
- Description
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Buckthorn bully is a native evergreen to deciduous shrub or small tree. It is found in the southeast and west to TX. It tends to grow in moist areas along streams and ponds. It is evergreen in warm winter areas and deciduous further north. This tree will grow up to 20 feet tall and produce clusters of tiny white flowers in the late spring to early summer. The fruit matures to purplish black in the fall and is edible but usually the birds or squirrels will get them first. Deer will browse the twigs. The leaves and stems will exude a milky sap when broken. Thorns are present on the stems.
This tree prefers well-drained moist sandy loams in full sun to partial shade. It isn't usually grown in the home landscape but could certainly be planted in a native naturalized area.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant 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:
- lycioides
- Family:
- Sapotaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southern Illinois to SE. U.S.A
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , DE , FL , GA , IL , IN , KY , LA , MD , MO , MS , NC , SC , TN , TX , VA , WV
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Food Source
- Edibility:
- Fruits can be eaten and used for jams and jellies.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- 1/2-inch long oval berries are red maturing to purplish black
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Tiny white flowers in clusters with 5 petals in late spring to early summer.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Black
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Obovate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Shiny green leaves above and paler with a few hairs below on young leaves, up to 6 inches long. Often clustered near the ends of branches. Wedge-shaped at base and tip often pointed, margins entire, exude a milky sap when crushed.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Light Brown
- Surface/Attachment:
- Scaly
- Bark Description:
- Bark is smooth on young trees and becomes scaly and shedding as the tree matures to revel a red inner bark
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Leaf Scar Shape:
- C-shaped, Cresent shaped
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Brown stems with a 1-inch thorn at each leaf scar. Exudes a milky sap when broken.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
