Pitch Apple (Clusia rosea)
Common Name Pitch Apple; Autograph Tree
Latin Name Clusia rosea
Family Guttiferae
Native Yes
Zone 10-11
Height 30 Feet
Spread 15-25 feet
Salt Water Tolerance High
Salt Wind Tolerance High
Drought Tolerance High
Soil Well drained clay or sand
Sun Full Sun/Light Shade
Wildlife Attractant Butterflies, Birds, & Bees
Main Uses
Due to its density and height, the Clusia rosea is often planted as a shade tree where it can create a nice canopy in your garden. It tends to have aggressive roots, so planting the C. rosea where it has room to grow is the best option. Many have used this small tree as a screen or border for privacy.
Its shiny, leathery leaves offer great texture to your landscape. It is a very salt and wind tolerant tree, making this a great addition to either a hammock or coastal garden.
Appearance
The Pitch Apple can grow up to 30 feet high with large shiny/leathery leaves. The leaves measure 7-8 inches long and 5 inches wide with a yellow mid vein. Its flowers are white to pink in color and measure around 3 inches.
The fruit is a 3-inch green pod that splits open to reveal black seeds. The Pitch apple is a nice dense tree that offer great shade, but make sure to plant it in an area where it gets full sun to partial shade.
Wildlife Attractant
The Pitch Apple offers great food and cover to wildlife. It attracts butterflies, birds, and bees. Its dense foliage creates a wonderful cover for animals.
