Florida Forest Trees

Fiddlewood  (Citharexylum fruticosum)

Fiddlewood grows as an evergreen shrub or small tree in and around coastal areas of Central and South Florida and the Keys. It is native to Florida and the West Indies.

Fiddlewood has heavy, very hard, close grained wood that has bright red heartwood and lighter colored sap wood. The tree has no commercial value other than as a landscape plant where it is often grown as a shrub, 6'-8' in height. Fiddlewood is salt tolerant and can withstand winds, making it an excellent landscape plant for coastal areas in warm climates.

The small, five-lobed, white flowers of fiddlewood appear throughout the year. These flowers are quite fragrant and are an excellent nectar source for wildlife. The berries of the fiddlewood also provide a food source for wildlife.

  

Twigs and leaves
 

 Identifying Characteristics
Size/Form:
 Fiddlewood is a shrub or small tree reaching 15' to 30' feet with a 4" to 8" diameter trunk that often leans. Most of the trunk is covered by the narrow, irregular crown.
Leaves:
 The evergreen leaves are simple, opposite, and oblong or oval in shape. They are 2" to 6" long and 1" to 1½" wide. The thickened, leathery leaves have curled margins, pointed tip, and a wedge-shaped base. The leaves are bright green above and pale green and smooth below.
Fruit:
 The reddish-brown to purplish-black fruit is a small drupe with four seeds.
Bark:
 The reddish-brown to light brown bark is scaly and very thin.
Habitat:
 Fiddlewood grows in pinelands and hammocks of coastal areas.

Photos
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Leaf


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