Eastern Leatherwood
Dirca palustris
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Thymelaeaceae
- Genus:
- Dirca
- Species:
- Dirca palustris
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub
- Height:
- 8-12 ft
- Light Requirements:
- Part Shade, Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- mar, apr, may, jun
- Bloom Colors:
- Yellow
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Native Range
United States: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Canada: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Commonly found in floodplains and wooded areas
Germination Information
Pre-treatment: Seeds are cleaned and sown in June, followed by a warm after-ripening period prior to cold, moist stratification.
Establishment: Seeds are sourced from local collectors within a 50 mile radius of the nursery. The red to orange fruits mature in May and June. The plant is common in a variety of forest types throughout the east, from Quebec and Ontario south to Florida, Louisiana, and Oklahoma.
Source: npn.rngr.net