cordia
( KORD - ee - uh )
At-A-Glance InformationCordia is a group of evergreen shrubs and trees commonly called Manjack or Bocote that need full sun for best performance. Known for their showy flowers, Cordias are native to tropical areas and the Southwest desert. They are hardy to 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Use Cordia plants as shrubs or small specimen trees, in mixed borders, or in low-water use landscapes.
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cordia Species and Varietals
The genus Cordia encompasses around 300 species of shrubs and trees and is included in the family Boraginaceae. The name of the genus honors a German botanist and pharmacist Valerius Cordus Refer to the species descriptions below for more growing zone information (to find your zone, click here: Zone Map).
Cordia boissieri (Texas Olive, White Geiger, Anacahuita) This species can be grown as a shrub or tree, and grows best in zones 8-24. Native to Mexico, Texas and New Mexico, this species is adapted best to low-lying deserts. It can get to be 12 feet tall and 8-10 feet wide. Leaves are greyish green and white flowers with yellow throats bloom in clusters in the middle of spring. A repeat bloom is possible in the fall given the right conditions and water. Can be pruned as a low hedge or trained into a small tree. Requires moderate water. |
Caring for and pruning cordia shrubs
Plant Cordia shrubs and trees at any time of the year in full sun exposure. These plants, when established, are considered drought-tolerant and only need to be watered when the soil completely dries out. Minimal pruning is required; these plants are best when left to their natural habit, so choose a spot in your yard that can accommodate these large shrubs. Prune only to remove dead or damaged wood in fall or wintertime.
Propagation
The simplest and easiest way to propagate Cordia shrubs and trees is the cutting method. This will produce a propagated plant that is identical to the parent plant, and this method has a relatively high chance of success.
Propagating Cordia by Cutting
Propagating Cordia 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 on your propagated shrub, 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.
Problems and Pests
These shrubs are not usually bothered by pest or disease, but can be affected by:
- Aphids
Gallery
Videos
An informational slideshow video about Cordia boissieri.
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An introduction to Cordia boissieri.
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Resources
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 259, Cordia
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