Buckthorn Bully
Sideroxylon lycioides
- Native to:
- United States
Robert H. Mohlenbrock. USDA SCS.
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Sapotaceae
- Genus:
- Sideroxylon
- Species:
- Sideroxylon lycioides
- USDA Symbol:
- SILY
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 900 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may,jun
- Bloom Colors:
- white, cream
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Parectopa bumeliella
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fall Color:
- yellow
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from root crown following fire; adapted to fire-prone habitats in its native range.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to southeastern U.S. woodlands
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 30–90 days
- Notes:
- Seeds may have erratic germination; fresh seed germinates more readily after cold stratification.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds are spread evenly on a firm seedbed prepared with moistened Pro-mix BX with bio-fungicide. They are then covered with 1/8 to 1/4 inch of additional soil and pressed down slightly to ensure good seed to soil contact. The seeds are then artificially cold stratified at 35-38 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 days.
Establishment: Mature fruit is hand harvested from a population of Stones River ecotype Sideroxylon lycioides located within the confines of Stones River National battlefield in South Central Tennessee. The Buckthorn bully is found throughout the Central and Southeastern United States.
Source: npn.rngr.net