Coma

 In
Coma

Sideroxylon celastrinum
Sideroxylon celastrinum
Saffron-Plum, Downward Plum, Tropical Buckthorn, Antswood
South Texas chaparral, south to Central and South America
15

20 feet
15

25 feet
  • Central Texas
  • Texas
  • Full Sun
  • Part Sun/Shade
  • Very Low
  • Deer Resistant
  • Birds

About This Plant

Sun. Semi-evergreen. Coma has little leaves, spiny branchlets, and a small treelike form. The leaves last for a couple of seasons, making it effectively evergreen. You’ll smell it before you ever see it; the warm-season white blooms have an overpowering sweet fragrance that attracts swarms of butterflies. From a ranch distance it can resemble a motte of live oak, until the thorns give it away on close inspection. Coma can be used for dense thicket-like screening if allowed to grow and given some room; it also makes an interesting addition to the native butterfly garden.

Overall, this is a great shelter and nesting plant for wild animals, especially in sandy soils south of San Antonio. It’s rarely found in the landscape trade, although it can be sourced from native growers in the Rio Grande Valley. Coma is fairly slow growing; preserve it on-site if you have it.

Maintenance

Prune to shape only; prickly branches require careful handling.

Features

Plant Type:
Small Tree
Size:
15-20' H, 15-25' W
Sunlight Requirements:
Full Sun, Part Sun/Shade
Soil Types:
Clay
Wildlife:
Birds, Butterflies
Flower Color:
White
Bloom Time:
May, June, July, August, September, October
Freeze Hardy:
Yes
Invasive:
No
Caution:
None
Coupon Eligible:
No

This plant goes well with

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Coleus leaves.