Pithecellobium unguis-cati

cat's-claw, catclaw blackbead

Fabaceae (Leguminosae)

Plant Specifics

Form:

shrub

Size:

10-15 (25) ft tall by 10-15 ft wide

Life Span:

long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

red, black

Phenology:

Noted For:

Showy Flowers, Thorns

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Specimen shrub.  Thorniness makes it a good property edge hedge.

Considerations:

Spiny

Light:

Full Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Somewhat moist, no flooding ---- to ---- Very long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Moderate. Tolerant of salty wind and may get some salt spray.

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand

Suitable to Grow In:

10A,10B,11

Ecology

Wildlife:

Butterflies, Caterpillars, Birds

Larval host  for cassius blue ( Leptotes cassius theonus ), large orange sulphur ( Phoebis agarithe ), and Miami blue ( Cyclargus thomasi bethunebakeri ) butterflies. 





Nectar plant for cassius blue, Florida duskywing ( Ephyriades brunneus ), Florida white ( Appias drusilla ), giant swallowtail ( Papilio cresphontes ), great southern white ( Ascia monuste ), hammock skipper ( Polygonus leo ), large orange sulphur, mangrove skipper ( Phocides pigmalion ), Miami blue, Palatka skipper ( Euphyes pilatka ), southern broken-dash ( Wallengrenia otho ), three-spotted skipper ( Cymaenes tripunctus ), twin-spot skipper ( Oligorio maculata ) and other butterflies. 

Birds eat the fruits (and the red&black arils).

Native Habitats:

Dry coastal hammocks and shell mounds.