Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
Nomenclature
Common Name:
Geiger tree
Synonym(s):
Genus species:
Cordia sebastiana
Family:
Boraginaceae
Plant Specifics
Form:
tree
Size:
10-14 ft
Life Span:
Long-lived perennial
Flower Color:
orange
Fruit Color:
Phenology:
evergreen
Noted For:
Showy Flowers
Landscaping
Recommended Uses:
Specimen tree
Considerations:
Leaves eaten by larvae of tortoise beetle rendering them not attractive
Availability:
Big Box Stores, Quality Nurseries, Native Nurseries
Propagation:
Light:
Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance:
Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry
Coming Soon!
Not wet but not extremely dry ---to--- Very long very dry periods
Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:
Unknown
Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:
Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray
Soil or Other Substrate:
Soil pH:
Calcareous but adaptable
Suitable to Grow In:
10B,11
Ecology
Wildlife:
Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.
Native Habitats:
Coastal areas.
Natural Range in Florida:
Visit the USF Libraries Atlas of Florida Plants
Comments:
Ethnobotany:
General Comments:
Authors disagree on the nativity of this tree. Roger Hammer and IRC consider that since the fruits float and are consumed by migratory white-crowned pigeons, it likely predated Spanish settlement.
