CORDIA TREES 
GEIGERTREE CORDIA 
*“GEIGERTREE CORDIA (C. sebest- 
ena). Most popular of all ornamentals in 
south Florida is this evergreen native tree 
with gorgeous orange flower clusters all 
year. It makes dense growth to 25’, its 
dark green leaves as rough as sandpaper. 
WHITE CORDIA (C. alliodora). This 
30-foot West Indian evergreen tree gets 
completely covered with white flowers at 
blooming time. If it thrives in Florida, it 
will make a fine ornamental. 
TEXAS WILD OLIVE 
“TEXAS WILD OLIVE (C. boissieri). 
For years [ve heard Texans rave about 
their wild olive trees, which of course are 
not olive trees at all. When I saw the 
beautiful white flowers I understood the 
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commotion on the Rio Grande. Here in- 
deed is a grand small ornamental tree to 
18 feet. Some of the Spanish natives call 
it Anacahuita. The right name is Cordia, 
but a rose by any other name would 
smell as sweet. This Texas tree (not the 
rose) sustains considerable cold without 
damage. 
*MADAGASCAR CORDIA (C. super- 
ba var. elliptica). Here is a brand new 
ornamental tree from Madagascar, the 
home of so many beautiful flowering trees 
that do well in Florida. It is an evergreen, 
probably never more than 25 feet, with 
big leathery leaves and white showy 
flowers 2 inches long in clusters at the tips 
of the branches. This new introduction 
promises to be an extra good one. This 
is closely related to our native Geigertree. 
OTHER CORDIA. The most stunning 
flowers I have seen on any Cordia are on 
the Mexican evergreen tree C. dodecan- 
dra, a giant to 100 feet with very rough 
leaves, orange-red flowers and edible acid 
fruits. The flowers are the same color as 
those of C. sebestena but these are twice 
as large; its regularity of flowering here 
remains to be checked. It thrives in my 
garden, along with C. nitida, the glossy- 
plant from Puerto Rico; C. leuco-sebestena, 
a white-flowered form from Cuba; C. den- 
tata, a vellow-flowered straggling tree; C. 
lutea, a lovely yellow-flowered shrub from 
Ecuador; C. obliqua from Cochin China, 
a handsome half-hardy shade tree, and 
others. 
*JAMAICAN EHRETIA (E. tinifolia). 
This is an evergreen dense, round-topped 
West Indian tree with dark green leaves. 
The pretty white, frangipani-like flowers 
are freely borne. This is an excellent 
small tree for yard or street planting. 
Closely allied to the Florida native tree 
called Strongback (Bourreria ovata). 
"INDIAN EHRETIA (E. laevis). A 
small deciduous tree. Troup says: “The 
masses of small white flowers appear from 
February to April, and the bunches of 
orange-red berries, sometimes covering 
the tree, appear from March to June. Both 
in flower and in fruit the trees are a con- 
spicuous sight.” Somewhat frost tender. 
