Cartrema americana

Common Names

Devilwood, Wild Olive, American Devilwood, American Olive

Summary

Devilwood is an evergreen shrub or small tree native to the southeastern United States, Mexico, and Central America, reaching 15–25 ft tall with opposite, leathery dark olive green leaves; spring blooms consist of small white, urn-shaped flowers on the previous year's growth that are fragrant, followed by dark blue drupes maturing in fall, with gray-brown bark and stout, square stems in habitats such as swamp margins and hammocks.

It grows best in full sun to partial shade in acid to moist, well-drained soils and is hardy in USDA zones 6–10; wind-tolerant, deer-resistant, and tolerant of salt spray, suitable for native, coastal, and pollinator-friendly landscapes; propagation via division, layering, and stem cuttings; blooms occur on old wood, so heavy pruning may reduce next year's display; fruits are eaten by birds, providing wildlife value; medium fire risk.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

13-30 ft

Spread

5-10 ft

Hardiness Zones

Zones 6a-10a

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun to partial shade.

Soil Type

Moist, well-drained, acidic sandy loam soil

Soil Drainage

Moist, well-drained soil.

Soil pH

6.0-8.0

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Time

Spring

Foliage Color

Dark green, dark olive green, gold/yellow green

Fall Foliage Color

Gold/Yellow

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

Very slow; ~1 ft/year

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Layering, Division, Cuttings

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, other pollinators, and birds