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Form/habitat

Leitneriaceae

Corkwood is so named because its wood is extremely light, even more so than cork. It is native to swamps, marshes, wetlands, rivers and streams and other low, poorly-drained areas from the southeast coast of Texas, where it is rare, to Florida. Once common throughout the Southeast, corkwood is a relict species, confined to small, isolated sites. It is extremely tolerant of floods, and can survive inundation for fairly long periods. Corkwood is a suckering shrub or small tree, often forming dense thickets. The dioecious flowers (male and female on separate plants) are inconspicuous, and the fruit is an oblong drupe that ripens in late spring or early summer. Corkwood is tough and durable, cold hardy well outside its range. Although the flowers and fruit are not ornamental, it has attractive light to bright green leaves on reddish stems, and because it can form a grove by its widely suckering roots, it can be invaluable for erosion control along streams and wetlands.

Plant Habit or Use: large shrub
small tree

Exposure: sun
partial sun

Flower Color: green, inconspicuous

Blooming Period: spring

Fruit Characteristics: one-seeded drupe

Height: 6 to 20 feet

Width:

Plant Character: deciduous

Heat Tolerance: medium

Water Requirements:

Soil Requirements: adaptable

USDA Hardiness Zone: 5

Additional Comments: