Spring is upon us, and so is planting season. One Florida panhandle native is black titi. This is an evergreen and easy-care large shrub or small tree. It’s also known as buckwheat tree, and is botanically known as Cliftonia monophylla. Black titi is commonly found in wet areas and at the edges of swamps from Louisiana through the Florida panhandle and into South Carolina. If you have areas in your garden that are consistently low and moist, this is the perfect plant! Additionally, black titi takes well to pond edges. These fragrant flowers provide an early-season nectar source for bees in February and March; a little late for this year, but luckily there is more to this plant than it’s beautiful flowers. The flowers give way to golden-amber seed pods that resemble buckwheat come late summer. The seed pods, which turn a pleasing orange-brown, and the shiny dark green evergreen leaves provide additional ornamental quality to the tree in fall and early winter. Black titi is most widely available with white flowers but there is also a pink variety. Happy planting!
