Milkwood

Tabernaemontana citrifolia

Native to:
Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Leeward Is., Mexico, Puerto Rico, Southwest Caribbean, Trinidad-Tobago, United States, Windward Is.

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Apocynaceae
Genus:
Tabernaemontana
Species:
Tabernaemontana citrifolia
USDA Symbol:
TACI

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Shrub , Tree
Height:
600 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
Medium
Bloom Months:
jan,feb,mar,apr,may,jun,jul,aug,sep,oct,nov,dec
Bloom Colors:
white
Landscaping Shrub:
Yes

Wildlife Benefits

Butterflies & Moths:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
birds, butterflies
Deer Resistant:
Yes
Salt Tolerant:
Yes
Fragrant:
Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
rich, well-drained loamy soil
pH:
5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
prefers organic matter-rich environments

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
None required
Germination Time:
14–60 days
Notes:
Fresh seeds germinate best; remove pulp from fruit before sowing.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI