devilwood
Osmanthus americanus
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Form & Habitat
devilwood form and habitat
Leaves
devilwood leaves devilwood leaves
Twigs
devilwood twigs devilwood twigs
Bark
devilwood bark
Flowers
devilwood flowers devilwood flowers
Fruit
  • FAMILY: OLEACEAE
  • ALTERNATE COMMON NAME:
  • LEAVES: opposite, simple, evergreen; shiny green, rolled margin; leaves in "propeller" arrangement
  • FLOWER: small inconspicuous, white to greenish; bell-shape; February to March
  • FRUIT: drupe; dark blue, globose; 1/2 inch long; on jointed fruiting stalk; persistent through following year
  • TWIGS: leaf scar elevated; ring of bundle scars
  • BARK: grayish brown; exfoliating scales expose reddish inner bark
  • FORM: small to medium tree, 30-40 ft
  • HABITAT: moist to dry sites; wide range
  • RANGE: coastal plain, southeast US
  • USES: ornamental; wood is fine-textured, hard to split, hard to work, hence “devilwood;” squirrels, turkey, song-birds eat the fruit
    • Best Recognition Features:
    1. leaves opposite, shiny green, lanceolate
    2. shrub or small tree
    3. evergreen, persistent, olive-like fruit; on jointed stalks
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