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Common Name: Ironwood

General Information

Cliftonia monophylla is an evergreen shrub that can grow up to 4.00 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

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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[]. Often also found in shallow, rarely overflowed swamps[].

Properties

Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	4.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Requires a free-draining, light, sandy, acid soil with additional leafmould added[].
This species is not very hardy outdoors in Britain[]. It can be grown in areas where frosts are light and of short duration, otherwise it will require some protection from winter cold[].
The flowers are very fragrant[, ].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

Wood - heavy, close-grained, moderately hard, brittle, not strong[]. It burns with a clear, bright flame and is valued as a fuel[].

Propagation

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, mid summer in a sandy medium in a frame[].