Cliftonia monophylla
Ironwood
a perennial woody evergreen member of the Cliftonia genus in the family Cyrillaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Cyrillaceae
- Genus
- Cliftonia
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- evergreen
- Woodiness
- woody
- Growth rate
- slow
- Height
- 4 m
- Fertility
- Bees
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Bees
Uses
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Wood - heavy, close-grained, moderately hard, brittle, not strong[2]. It burns with a clear, bright flame and is valued as a fuel[2].
Environment
- Range
- South-eastern N. America - Louisiana to Florida.
- Habitat
- Damp, sandy, peat soils in alluvial swamps and bays free from mud, lime, sulphur and salt[2]. Often also found in shallow, rarely overflowed swamps[2].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 8+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy
- Soil pH
- very acid, acid
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - we have no information for this species, but the seed is probably best sown as soon as it is ripe in a greenhouse. As soon as they are large enough to handle, prick out the seedlings into individual pots. Grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter, planting them out in early summer when there is no danger of frost. Give them some protection from the cold for their first winter outdoors. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a sandy medium in a frame[1].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Requires a free-draining, light, sandy, acid soil with additional leafmould added[1]. This species is not very hardy outdoors in Britain[1]. It can be grown in areas where frosts are light and of short duration, otherwise it will require some protection from winter cold[1]. The flowers are very fragrant[2][1].
References
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20278-X