Florida Fiddlewood (Citharexylum spinosum)

Plant Creations Inc. Nursery Florida Fiddlewood Citharexylum spinosum

Common Name  Florida Fiddlewood

Latin Name Citharexylum spinosum

Family Verbenaceae

Native Yes

Zone  9B-11 

Height 15-25 feet

Spread to 12 feet 

Salt Water Tolerance Low

Salt Wind Tolerance Low

Drought Tolerance moderate

Soil  Moist, well-drained sandy or limestone soils, with humusy top layer

Sun Full Sun; moderate shade

Wildlife Attractant Birds, bees, and butterflies

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Main Uses

The Fiddlewood is a wonderful large shrub or small tree that can be used as an ornamental or accent element to your garden.  It tolerates full sun to partial shade, making it great as a barrier shrub or a great addition to your understory. 

Native to Florida, the Fiddlewood can be found from central Florida down into the Keys.  Because of its low salt water and salt wind tolerance, its best used in a hammock setting or placed where there is plenty of buffer plants surrounding it. 

Appearance

The Fiddlewood is a very pretty shrub with its tiny fragrant flowers blooming in spikes and globular hanging fruit.  Its fruits resemble a hanging bunch of grapes, juicy and loved by wildlife.  When ripe, the fruits turn an orange hue. 

This plant can grow anywhere from 15-25 feet high and is adorned with 3-6-inch-long green shiny leaves.  Bloom season is all year round, making it a stunner at all times.  

 Wildlife Attractant

The sweet and juicy fruit of the Fiddlewood attracts a slew of wildlife, from birds to small ground-dwelling animals. The fragrant flowers attract butterflies and other pollinators.  This is a great food and cover source for any wildlife that is attracted to your garden. 

Plant Creations Inc. Nursery Florida Fiddlewood Citharexylum spinosum