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Common Name: Leatherwood

General Information

Cyrilla racemiflora is a deciduous shrub that can grow up to 1.20 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of materials..

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Southern North America - Virginia to Florida and Texas.

Habitat

Rich shaded river bottoms, the borders of sandy swamps and shallow ponds of the coastal pine-belt[]. Also found on high, sandy, exposed ridges rising above streams[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	1.20 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Requires a sunny position and a humus-rich soil[]. Thrives in a mixture of peat and loam[]. Prefers a circum-neutral or slightly acid, moisture-retentive soil[].
This species has a wide distribution in the wild, extending southwards from South-eastern North America to Brazil. An evergreen small tree in the warmer parts of its range, only those forms from the most northerly part of its range can be grown outdoors in Britain. These northerly forms are deciduous, though may remain evergreen in mild winters[, ]. They usually take the form of a small shrub, but can sometimes become a small tree. They succeed outdoors in the south of Britain, though can be damaged or killed in severe winters[].
The flowers are produced at the base of the current years growth[, ].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The spongy bark at the base of the trunk is pliable, absorbent and astringent. It has been recommended as a styptic[].

Other Uses

Wood - heavy, hard, close-grained, not strong[].

Propagation

Seed - 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 softwood, spring in a frame[].
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, mid summer in a frame[].
Root cuttings in the spring[].