Common Name: Ironwood

General Information

Sideroxylon tenax is a spiny, deciduous to evergreen shrub or small tree; it can grow up to 8 metres tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of wood.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

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Range

South-eastern N. America - South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.

Habitat

Dry sandy soils[], in sand-pine forests and with coastal oak[]. Dry, sandy soils in pine forests, pine-oak scrub, and hammocks on coastal plain; at elevations up to 100 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Semi-deciduous Tree
Height	4.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Sideroxylon tenax is native to the warm temperate and subtropical regions of southeastern N. America. It is said to be able to withstand occasional temperatures falling to around -15°c, but in general is not very hardy outside the milder regions of the temperate zone. Plants can regenerate freely from the base if they are cut back by cold[].
Succeeds in a warm sunny site in any freely draining moderately fertile soil[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw. A sweet flavour[]. The purplish-black, ellipsoid berries are 8 - 13mm long[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

Wood - heavy, hard, close grained[]. Of no commercial value because the trees are too small[].

Propagation

Seed - we have no details on this species but would suggest that if ripe seed can be obtained it should be sown straight away in a cold greenhouse. Stored seed can be sown in late winter or early spring in a greenhouse. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter, planting them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.