FNPS Plant Database

Colubrina elliptica

soldierwood
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

soldierwood

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Colubrina elliptica

Family:

Rhamnaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

tree

Size:

10-20 (40) ft

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

yellow,green

Fruit Color:

orange,red

Phenology:

Evergreen. Blooms year round.

Noted For:

Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Small specimen tree or large shrub. Background edge and screen plantings.

Considerations:

Availability:

Native Nurseries

Propagation:

Seed.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

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

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Somewhat moist, no flooding -to- Short 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, Lime Rock

Soil pH:

Calcareous (high pH)

Suitable to Grow In:

10A,10B,11

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



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Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Butterflies

Attracts abundant insects including bees, wasps, butterflies, and diurnal moths. The species is considered a honey plant, furnishing both nectar and pollen to non-native honeybees.

Native Habitats:

Tropical rockland hammock.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

Citations:

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



Institute for Regional Conservation.  Accessed 2021.  Natives for Your Neighborhood.   https://www.regionalconservation.org/beta/nfyn/plantdetail.asp?tx=Coluell i.  (SF occurrence, salt tolerance, soil).



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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