Cartrema americana: Country Or Region Of Origin
Coastal Plains
Plant Profile: Cartrema americana
Names
Devilwood, Wild Olive
Phonetic Spelling:kar-tray-mah a-mer-ih-KAY-na
Genus:Cartrema
Species:americana
Family:Oleaceae
Devilwood is a modest evergreen tree that typically reaches heights of 15 to 20 feet. Its leaves are arranged oppositely, featuring smooth to slightly wavy edges and a rusty-hued underside. The bark presents a gray-brown color and has a finely scaly texture. In the spring, this tree produces small, urn-shaped white flowers that bloom on the previous year's growth. By fall, it bears dark blue drupes. Additionally, the tree is known for its fragrant blossoms. Naturally, Devilwood thrives in maritime forests across Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina, as well as in inland sandy forests. This species is dioecious, meaning that male plants are necessary for the female trees to produce fruit.
Synonym: Cartrema americana
Fire Risk: This plant has a medium flammability rating.
Seasons of Interest:
- Leaves: Fall
- Blooms: Spring
- Nut/Fruit/Seed: Late Summer/Fall
Form: Loose growth habit
Exposure: Tolerates a variety of soil conditions.
Cartrema americana Feature Summary
Cartrema americana Image Gallery
Tags
#fragrant
#evergreen
#fragrant flowers
#drought tolerant
#wildlife plant
#native tree
#salt tolerant
#cover plant
#food source
#fire
#medium flammability
#NC native
#deer resistant
#caterpillars
#coastal plants
#pollinator plant
#food source summer
#food source fall
#food source herbage
#food source nectar
#food source pollen
#coastal FAC
#Piedmont Mountains FAC
#fruits
#bird friendly
#food source soft mast fruit
#butterfly larvae
#bee friendly
#audubon
Similar Plants
Cartrema americana Feature Summary
Attributes
Coastal Plains
Provides cover during the winter and extreme weather. Fruits are eaten by birds and small mammals.
medium flammability
Fruit
Displays in late summer and fall between August and October.
Nut
Blue
Summer
Fall
Flowers
In the spring, small, urn-shaped, white flowers mature on the previous years growth of the Devilwood. This plant produces a dark blue drupe that matures in the fall. Flowers bloom April-May.
White
Cream/Tan
Fragrant
Spring
Leaves
Seasons of Interest: Fall The leaf of the Devilwood is 2 to 4.5 in., opposite, simple and dark green. It is entire, with a smooth to slightly wavy margin and has a rusty colored underside. If grown in the sun, the leaves turn a yellow-green in the fall.
Broadleaf Evergreen
Green
Gold/Yellow
Whole Plant Traits
Shrub
Tree
Native Plant
Broadleaf Evergreen
Multi-trunked
Open
Medium
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Acid (<6.0)
Moist
Occasionally Dry
Coastal
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
9a
9b
Stem
Landscape
Pollinator Garden
Native Garden
Deer
Salt
Pollinators
Songbirds
Bees
Cartrema americana Image Gallery
Cartrema americana Attributes
Cartrema americana: Wildlife Value
Provides cover during the winter and extreme weather. Fruits are eaten by birds and small mammals.
Cartrema americana: Fire Risk Rating
extreme flammability
high flammability
low flammability
medium flammability
Cartrema americana Fruit
Cartrema americana: Fruit Description
Displays in late summer and fall between August and October.
Cartrema americana: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Cartrema americana: Fruit Color
Blue
Cartrema americana: Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Cartrema americana Flowers
Cartrema americana: Flower Description
In the spring, small, urn-shaped, white flowers mature on the previous years growth of the Devilwood. This plant produces a dark blue drupe that matures in the fall. Flowers bloom April-May.
Cartrema americana: Flower Color
Cream/Tan
White
Cartrema americana: Flower Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Cartrema americana: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Cartrema americana: Flower Shape
Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel
Cartrema americana Leaves
Cartrema americana: Leaf Description
Seasons of Interest: Fall The leaf of the Devilwood is 2 to 4.5 in., opposite, simple and dark green. It is entire, with a smooth to slightly wavy margin and has a rusty colored underside. If grown in the sun, the leaves turn a yellow-green in the fall.
Cartrema americana: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Cartrema americana: Leaf Color
Gold/Yellow
Green
Cartrema americana: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Cartrema americana Whole Plant Traits
Cartrema americana: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Cartrema americana: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Cartrema americana: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Cartrema americana: Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Cartrema americana Cultural Conditions
Cartrema americana: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Cartrema americana: Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Cartrema americana: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Cartrema americana: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Cartrema americana: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
9a
9b
Cartrema americana Stem
Cartrema americana: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Cartrema americana Landscape
Cartrema americana: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Cartrema americana: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Cartrema americana: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
