Shiny Xylosma (Xylosma congesta )
↑Summary
An evergreen shrub or tree native to China, used in landscaping and perhaps escaped into the wild.
↑Range - Expand
| Legend | Color |
| Introduced but Eliminated |
This map is based on our research. We have checked its accuracy to Level 3 ecoregions. Although this plant occurs somewhere in each of these regions, it may only occur in a small part of some or all of them.
BONAP shows this species as introduced in Georgia but without giving a location. FSUS marks this report as "questionable", but reports this species as a waif in central peninsular FL, meaning it escaped cultivation and established temporarily but did not persist.
↑Uses
This species is used in landscaping in the warmer parts of North America, particularly in Florida, Texas, and Southern california. It has widely been used as a hedge in the past, as it responds well to pruning and tends to maintain dense growth when pruned as a hedge.
Its popularity has declined due to the fact that it tends to grow large and spread out of most areas it is planted in, requiring costly ongoing pruning. It also is a host to giant whiteflies.
Although this species has a long history of cultivation in North America without becoming invasive, it may have some risk of establishing in the wild, particularly in the southeast. It has several traits which suggest it may have a risk of becoming invasive, including being shade-tolerant, tolerating a wide range of soil types, having bird-dispersed fruit, and being able to resprout repeatedly after top-kill.
↑Links & External Resources
• Xylosma congesta | Biota of North America Project (BONAP) (About This Site)
• Xylosma congesta (Lour.) Merr. | Plants of the World Online (POWO) (About This Site)
