Cliftonia monophylla

Common Names

Buckwheat Tree, Black Titi, Spring Titi, Ironwood

Summary

Cliftonia monophylla is an evergreen shrub or small tree native to the southeastern United States, commonly forming multi-stemmed thickets in wetlands, it typically grows 12 to 25 feet tall with dense, leathery dark green leaves and a lighter underside, and it bears fragrant white to pinkish flowers in upright racemes during early spring, followed by five-winged drupes, the plant provides a nectar source for bees and thrives in acidic, moist to wet soils in swamps, bogs, bayheads, and along streambanks, tolerating periodic flooding while not salt-tolerant, it prefers full sun to partial shade and moist to wet, acidic soils, with limited drought tolerance, propagation is by seed or cuttings, and a pink-flowered cultivar such as Chipola Pink is occasionally available, in cultivation, it suits native plantings, rain gardens, wetland borders, and conservation landscaping, and serves as a durable, wildlife-friendly hedge or specimen that supports pollinators and wildlife while requiring moisture and avoidance of lime

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

12-18 feet

Spread

120-144 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 7a-10b

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full Sun to Partial Shade.

Soil Type

Moist to wet, acidic soil

Soil Drainage

Wet soils

Soil pH

4.5-5.5

Bloom Color

White, sometimes pinkish-tinged

Bloom Time

Spring (blooms from March to June, depending on climate)

Foliage Color

Dark green

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

Slow

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Layering, Division

Attracts Wildlife

Bees, butterflies, other pollinators