FNPS Plant Database

Chrysophyllum oliviforme

satinleaf

PHOTOS COMING SOON!

Nomenclature

Common Name:

satinleaf

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Chrysophyllum oliviforme

Family:

Sapotaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

tree

Size:

15-30 ft tall by 10-30 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

purple,black

Phenology:

Evergreen. Blooms all year. Fruits mostly ripen in spring. Moderately long lived (Nelson 2003).

Noted For:

Hurricane Wind Resistance, Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Specimen tree. Valued for its foliage which is shiny green on top and silky brown beneath.

Considerations:

Slow growing. May be top-killed by frost in extreme northern parts of its range or when planted to the north of its natural range.  Does resprout from the roots.

Availability:

Native Nurseries, FNPS Plant Sales

Propagation:

Said to be difficult to establish, but small seedlings transplant well.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Coming Soon!

Usually moist, occasional inundation ---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:

Sand, Organic

Soil pH:

Slightly acidic

Suitable to Grow In:

9B,10A,10B,11

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.



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Ecology

Wildlife:

Birds, Mammals

Insect pollinated.

Birds and other wildlife consume fruit. 

Native Habitats:

Tropical rockland hammocks.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

Fruits are edible.

General Comments:

Citations:

Institute for Regional Conservation.  2022.  Natives for Your Neighborhood. https://www.regionalconservation.org/beta/nfyn/default.asp.



Haehle, Robert G. and Joan Brookwell.  1999.  Native Florida Plants.  Gulf Publishing Company.  Houston, TX.



Institute for Regional Conservation (IRC).  Accessed 2021.  https://www.regionalconservation.org/beta/nfyn/plantdetail.asp?tx=Chryoliv. (salt tolerance).



Nelson, Gil.  2003.  Florida's Best Landscape Plants. Association of Florida Native Nurseries.



Osorio, Rufino. 2001. A gardener's guide to Florida's native plants.  University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.



Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. 2021. Atlas of Florida Plants ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ).  Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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