FNPS Plant Database

Litsea aestivalis

pondspice
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

pondspice

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Litsea aestivalis

Family:

Lauraceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

shrub

Size:

15 (30) ft

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

greenish yellow

Fruit Color:

red

Phenology:

deciduous

Noted For:

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Wetland areas where the goal is to attract birds.

Considerations:

Availability:

Native Nurseries, Seed

Propagation:

Light:

Part Sun, Shade

Moisture Tolerance:

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

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Stays wet -to- Somewhat moist, no flooding

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Organic

Soil pH:

Acidic

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B

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

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Vouchered In:

Distribution
Vouchered
Not vouchered
Selected
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No county distribution is available for this plant yet.
Starting…
Map coded by Melissa Fernandez-de Cespedes (Paynes Prairie Chapter)

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Caterpillars, Birds, Mammals

Attracts flies and small bees. 





A likely host for the spicebush swallowtail butterfly.

Fruits eaten by birds and mammals.

Native Habitats:

Near the edges of forested wetlands and some seasonal ponds wtih open centers.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

Litsea aestivalis is listed as Endangered by the State of Florida.  Since that listing, the laurel wilt disease has come to Florida, and is known to kill this species.   It is likely best to plant this plant only if the stock is known to be disease free, and only if planting it is not likely to provide new hosts for the disease.  As with any Endangered species, please acquire only from reputable nurseries with appropriate licences to grown and sell this species.



The documented range of this species suggests that the occurrence is sparse, but fairly broad in the northern half of Florida.  It is also a plant that is easily overlooked and that may have a wider range than that suggested by documentation from herbarium specimens given that much of its habitat has likely been eliminated by forestry practices.  It is also probably that the range is becoming sparser due to laurel wilt.

FNPS Plant Print

Citations:

Chafin, L. G. (2000). Field Guide to the Rare Plants of Florida. Florida Natural Areas Inventory, Tallahassee, FL.


Minno, Marc, and Maria Minno. (1999). Florida Butterfly Gardening: A Complete Guide to Attracting, Identifying, and Enjoying Butterflies. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. (1999+). Atlas of Florida Plants. ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ). [S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), USF Water Institute.] Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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