Xylosma

( zi - LOS - ma )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus of deciduous or evergreen shrubs and trees is widely used as a basic landscaping plant that provides good foliage coverage. These plants are native to China, and need full sun to partial shade and moderate water to perform well. Their foliage is typically green and glossy, and some species have foliage that is differently colored when emerging. Flowers are generally insignificant, and range in color from creamy white to greenish-yellow. Berries follow fruits, and remain on shrubs and trees for a long time, adding to the aesthetic value of these plants. Use Xylosma as hedge plants, screening shrubs, foundation cover, specimen trees, or simply to add foliage to various parts of the landscape.

Xylosma Species and Varietals

The genus Xylosma includes 100 species and is a member of the plant family Salicaceae. Shrubs in this genus grow well in zones 8-24 (to find your zone, click here: Zone Map).

Xylosma congesta (Shiny Xylosma)
Native to China, these shrubs have a loose, spreading habit and reach 8-10 feet tall and just as wide (or a bit wider). Rarely seen flowers are insignificant. Can be trained as a single or multitrunked small tree, an espalier, or be used as a hedge or screening plant. They are hardy to 10 degrees Fahrenheit, but may lose leaves and new growth in frosty conditions if they persist for too long.

Xylosma crenata (Sawtooth Logwood)
This species is endemic to the island of Kaua'i in Hawai'i. It forms a tree that reaches up to 46 feet tall, and prefers to grow in forested areas. These trees are threatened with habitat loss due to development.

Xylosma flexuosa (Brushholly, Coronilla)
This species is native to southern North America and northern South America. It forms a spiny evergreen shrub to between 3 and 6.5 feet tall. Foliage is green, and flowers are insignificant and yellow-green. Red and yellow berries can be found on these plants throughout the growing season. This species is sometimes cultivated as an ornamental hedge plant.

Caring for and pruning xylosma shrubs

These plants should be situated in a spot in the garden where they receive between 6 and 8 hours of sun each day. They can tolerate some shade, through foliage color and flowering will lessen. These shrub grow best in fertile, loamy soil that is well-draining. Shiny Xylosma prefers a pH of between 6.0 and 7.5. Keep the soil consistently moist, especially when the plant is young and during the warmer periods of the year. At maturity, lessen to only deep waterings when the top inch of soil feels dry. These shrubs are sensitive to root rot problems, and waterlogged conditions can create an ideal environment for them to take hold. They are also relatively drought-tolerant when established. Feed Shiny Xylosma with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in springtime to support the year's new foliage growth and flowering. Pruning these shrubs is relatively straightforward; simply remove dead or damaged wood and prune to shape and size. The best time to prune these shrubs is late winter or early springtime.

Propagation

Xylosma shrubs can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your shrub, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Xylosma by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.