FNPS Plant Database
Sideroxylon celastrinum
Nomenclature
Common Name:
Synonym(s):
Genus species:
Family:
Sapotaceae
Plant Specifics
Form:
Size:
Life Span:
Long-lived perennial
Flower Color:
Fruit Color:
Phenology:
Noted For:
Landscaping
Recommended Uses:
Considerations:
Availability:
Propagation:
Light:
Moisture Tolerance:
Always Flooded---------------------------------Extremely Dry
□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□■■■■■■■■■■■■□□□□□□□□□□□□
Somewhat moist, no flooding -to- Not wet but not extremely dry
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, Lime Rock
Soil pH:
Suitable to Grow In:
USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.
Don't know your zone? Click here to search by zip code.
Vouchered In:
Ecology
Wildlife:
Appreciated by a variety of insects as a nectar source.
Fruit are eaten by birds and mammals. It provides nesting sites and cover.
Native Habitats:
Comments:
Ethnobotany:
General Comments:
Citations:
Corogin, Paul T. (2018). The Buckthorns (Genus Sideroxylon): An Underappreciated Group of Florida Native Plants. FDACS-P-01915. ( https://www.fdacs.gov/content/download/82393/file/CIRCULAR_Buckthorns_SIderoxylon.pdf ). Accessed 2026. Florida Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Tallahassee, FL.
Huegel, Craig N. (2012). Native Wildflowers and Other Ground Covers for Florida Landscapes. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
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, FL.
