General Information
Status in Florida: Native
Native Habitat: Stream banks, river floodplains, swamp edges, bottomland forests
Native States: FL, AL, GA, SC, NC, TN, KY, VA, WV, MD, DE, PA, OH, IN, IL, MO, AR, MS, LA, TX, OK, KS
Growing Zones: 4–9
Size at Maturity: 40–70 feet tall, 30–50 feet wide
Phenology: Deciduous
Life Cycle: Perennial
Growth Rate: Fast
Growth Habit: Upright, spreading, pyramidal when young, irregular with age
Bloom Season: Spring
Bloom Color: Yellowish-green catkins
Growth Conditions
Sunlight Requirements: Full-Part
Soil Texture: Sand, loam, clay
Soil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral
Moisture Requirements: Moist, wet, adaptable
Tolerance to Salt Spray: Low/None
Keystone Plant: No
Landscape Considerations
Recommended Landscape Uses: Shade tree, rain gardens, wetland restoration, erosion control
Maintenance Tips: Requires consistent moisture; mulch to retain root moisture; prune in late summer or fall to avoid bleeding
Considerations: Shallow roots may lift pavement; short-lived in dry or compacted soils
Hurricane Wind Resistant: Moderate (may lose limbs in high winds)
Erosion Control: Yes
Nitrogen Fixing: No
Other Information
Edible: No
Pet Safe: Yes
Deer and Rabbit Resistance: No
Historical Medicinal Uses: Inner bark and leaves used by Indigenous peoples for astringent and tonic purposes
Florida Native Companion Plant: Bald Cypress, Buttonbush, Swamp Hibiscus
Wildlife Benefit: Birds, small mammals, pollinators (catkins are a pollen source)
Caterpillar Host Plant: Yes – host to several moth species, including Luna Moth (Actias luna) and Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis)