Ironwood Sideroxylon tenax
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Ironwood:
Previously known as:
- Bumelia tenax
- Phonetic Spelling
- sid-der-ox-ZY-lon TEN-aks
- Description
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Tough bully is an evergreen or deciduous shrub or tree in the Sapotaceae family found from the southernmost part of NC south to FL. in the coastal plains. The tree will grow up to 30 feet tall and is evergreen in warm winter areas and deciduous further north. In spring clusters of tiny white fragrant flowers occur and are followed by berries that mature to purplish black that are attractive to birds and deer. The branches have thorns and the stems have a milky sap when broken.
It prefers moist to dry, well-drained sandy soil with a humusy top layer in full sun. It has some tolerance for salty air but not salt spray. This plant can be used in the native, edible or naturalized garden.
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:
- tenax
- Family:
- Sapotaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeastern U.S.A., NC to FL
- Distribution:
- FL, GA, SC, NC
- Wildlife Value:
- Bees and wasps drink the nectar. Birds and mammals eat the berries
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Edible fruit
- Fragrance
- Wildlife Food Source
- Edibility:
- Raw fruits have a sweet flavor.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 12 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Native Plant
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- 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:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Very Dry
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Oval green berries mature to purplish black
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Description:
- Tiny white flowers in clusters of up to 40 flowers on short hairy stems
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Feel:
- Soft
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Spatulate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Shiny green leaves vary as to the area it grow in, and are up to 2.8 inches long. Undersides covered with silky silver or reddish-brown hairs. The base is cuneate to attenuate, margins entire, apex rounded to obtuse or retuse
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Surface/Attachment:
- Furrowed
- Bark Description:
- Bark brown, furrowed and narrow-ridged. The inner bark reddish-brown
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Zig Zags
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Brown stems are armed with thorns and exude a milky sap when broken.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Hedge
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Problems:
- Spines/Thorns
