Crabwood
Gymnanthes lucida
Crabwood, which is also called Oysterwood, is found in coastal hammocks throughout the Florida Keys and Dade County and has a small population in Palm Beach County.
This is a round tree that grows to 25 feet with four inch oval leaves and catkins of small green male or reddish female flowers. The wind pollinated Male and female flowers are separate on the same plant. When dry, the half inch rounded pod splits and scatters three small seeds.
These are not an important food for birds yet the leaves are a larval food for the Florida purplewing butterfly in the Keys. Numerous seedlings will come up after a good fruiting year.
The burgundy new growth is beautiful and the moderate size and round shape make this a good front yard tree. Mix Crabwood with other hammock species. Tall Paradise, Mastic, Live Oak and Pigeon Plum can be planted within ten feet while lower and bushy Jamaica Caper, Black Ironwood, Marlberry, Stoppers and Lancewood will need their own space of 10-20 feet from Crabwood.
This small tree can be trimmed low and makes a great, rounded hedge in parking lots and other harsh environments with heat and poor soil. Please don’t square any hedge plant, it just ruins the appearance. Protect from direct salt air and flooding.