Cliftonia monophylla aka Spring Titi

Cliftonia monophylla is an evergreen shrub or small tree. Common names include buckwheat tree, black titi, and ironwood. It belongs to the family Cyrillaceae. Its native range covers the southeastern United States. It grows from Louisiana to Florida and north to South Carolina. Wild plants grow in damp, sandy peat in swamps and bays. Some sites have shallow water but rarely flood.

Garden plants reach 12–18 feet (3.7–5.5 metres) tall. Their spread reaches 6–10 feet (1.8–3 metres). Some plants reach 25 feet (7.6 metres), with extremes of 45 feet (13.7 metres). Growth is slow, and several crooked stems form an open crown. Plants can spread into dense thickets without trimming. Slender twigs range from reddish brown to gray-brown. Young bark is gray, with loose scales and shreds. It becomes smoother and gray-brown before older bark splits or scales.

The thick, leathery leaves stay on the plant year-round. Each simple leaf has a smooth edge and glossy upper face. The tops are dark green; the undersides are paler or whitish. Spring brings scented white to pink flowers with orange anthers. The blooms form upright racemes at the branch tips. Each flower has five petals. Bees visit for nectar, making this a useful honey plant. Yellowish drupes follow in summer, each with five wings. Their shape recalls buckwheat seeds and explains the common name.

Grow it in full sun or partial shade. It needs acid soil that drains well yet stays moist to wet. Sandy soil suits it, and loam also supports growth. Leaf mould can help prepare the planting site. North Carolina State lists USDA hardiness zones 7–10. Cold remains a limit despite that broad range. Plants may need cover where frosts last or become severe. Plants For A Future says outdoor growth in Britain needs mild, brief frosts.

This plant suits woodland settings and gardens that support pollinators. Its evergreen leaves and spring flowers provide landscape interest. It has no major reported insect or disease problems. However, it does not cope well with nearby woody competition. The wood is hard and brittle, and people use it as fuel. Plants For A Future records no known food or medicinal uses. That source also lists no known hazards; this does not establish edible use.