Family: Verbenaceae
Common Name: Fiddlewood

Commonly known as fiddlewood because the timber is used to make musical instruments (the kithara was an ancient Grecian stringed instrument), these trees and shrubs are evergreen in their native tropical America, but semi-deciduous in cooler climates. The foliage of the species listed turns deep orange before falling. The leaves are simple, opposite, more or less elliptical and generally entire, although sometimes coarsely toothed. The spiky sprays of small, yellow or white flowers are delightfully fragrant.

Species

C. fruticosum, from the West Indies, grows into a tree of about 9 m (30 ft) tall. It has entire leaves 10-15 cm (4-6 in) long and sprays of white flowers, 10-12 cm (4-5 in) long, which appear at any time through the year.

C. spinosum is a larger tree, also from the West Indies, where it reaches 15 m (50 ft). It has deep green, oval, toothed leaves, to 20 cm (8 in), and 30 cm (12 in) long sprays of white flowers at any time between winter and early summer.

Cultivation

In cool, frosty climates, grow in a cool greenhouse or conservatory. Outdoors, fiddlewoods do best in a reasonably rich soil in a warm spot in the garden. They quickly grow into a bushy tree or large shrub, but do not reach the heights they achieve in their native habitat. Prune if they require it in the late winter or early spring, before new growth starts. Propagate from cuttings.

Climate

Zone 9.