Sideroxylon tenax aka Tough Bully

Sideroxylon tenax is known as tough bully or ironwood. It belongs to the Sapotaceae family. Its former name is Bumelia tenax. This shrub or small tree comes from the southeastern United States. Its native range runs from North Carolina south to Florida. It grows on coastal plains, including dry, sandy woodland sites. Plants reach 12–30 feet (3.7–9.1 metres) tall. Their spread ranges from 10–20 feet (3–6.1 metres). Growth is fast, and the plant has an upright form.

The leaves stay green through winter in warm areas. Farther north, plants lose their leaves in the cold season. Each simple leaf grows alternately along the stem. Leaves have smooth edges and an oval or spoon-like shape. Their glossy green tops contrast with the soft hairs beneath. These hairs may look silver or reddish brown. Leaf shape varies with where the plant grows. Dark brown bark has furrows and narrow ridges. The inner bark has a reddish-brown shade. Smooth brown stems bend in a zigzag pattern and bear thorns. Broken stems release a milky sap.

Small white flowers open in spring and give off scent. Short, hairy stalks hold clusters of up to 40 flowers. Each flower has four or five petals. Bees and wasps visit them for nectar. Green, oval fruits follow the flowers and darken to purple-black. These fruits are drupes, each less than an inch long. They ripen in fall and feed birds and mammals, including deer. People can eat the sweet fruit raw. Plants For A Future lists no known hazards or medicinal uses.

Grow tough bully in full sun for its preferred light conditions. It also tolerates partial shade. Give it well-drained soil with a humus-rich surface layer. Sandy soil suits it, though it also grows in loam. It accepts acid, neutral, and alkaline soils. Soil moisture may range from dry to moist. The plant resists drought and needs little upkeep. North Carolina State lists USDA hardiness zones 8–11. It tolerates some salt in the air, but not salt spray.

Use it in native gardens, woodland plantings, or naturalized areas. It can also form a hedge or join an edible garden. Flowers and fruit provide food for wildlife. North Carolina State reports no major pest or disease problems. Its thorns remain a practical concern when choosing a planting site.