Soldierwood
Colubrina elliptica
- Native to:
- Bahamas, Cayman Is., Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Leeward Is., Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, Turks-Caicos Is., United States, Virgin Islands, Windward Is.
iNaturalist: © carrieseltzer (iNaturalist #124455297)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Rhamnaceae
- Genus:
- Colubrina
- Species:
- Colubrina elliptica
- USDA Symbol:
- COEL2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 1500 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- mar,apr,may,jun,jul,aug,sep,oct
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow, green
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, butterflies
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rocky, well-drained limestone soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to rocky coastal areas
Propagation & Germination
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Notes:
- Seeds have a hard coat; scarification improves germination rates.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI