Damburneya coriacea

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Lancewood

Lauraceae

Also known as Ocotea coriacea, Nectandra coriaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:Shrub
Size:20-30 ft tall by 10-20 ft wide
Life Span:Long-lived perennial
Flower Color:White
Fruit Color:Blue,black
Phenology:Evergreen. Blooms in spring. Fruits summer-fall.
Noted for:Showy flowers, Interesting foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:This small tree has an elegant appearance that makes it suited to use as a specimen plant. The glossy evergreen foliage makes this small tree also make it effective as a screen or barrier plant.
Considerations:Potentially subject to laurel wilt disease.
Propagation:
Availability:Native nurseries, Seed
Light: Full Sun,  Part Shade
Moisture Tolerance:
always floodedextremely dry
 (Somewhat moist, no flooding ----- to ----- Short very dry periods)
Moisture Tolerance: Somewhat moist, no flooding ----- to ----- Short very dry periods
Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Salt Spray/ Salty Soil Tolerance:Moderate. Tolerant of salty wind and may get some salt spray. Exposure to salt spray would be uncommon (major storms).
Soil or other substrate:Humus (organic, upland), Lime rock, Sand
Soil pH:Adaptable

Ecology

Wildlife:

Wildlife food plant.

Insects:
 

Insect pollinated.

Said to be a good honey plant (Haehle and  Brookwell 1999).

Native Habitats:Tropical hammocks. This is naturally an understory tree and also as a colonizer of disturbed sites.

Distribution and Planting Zones

Natural Range in Florida
USDA Zones

Suitable to grow in:
10A 10B 11 9B 

USDA zones are based on minimum winter temperatures

Comments

Ethnobotany:The common name "Lancewood" comes fact that early Florida Indians apparently used the very straight stems as lances for spearing fish.
General Comments:Foliage when crushed smells like citrus.