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Leatherwood

Dirca

A genus of only 2 species of plants that are shrubs native to North America

Dirca palustris ( Leatherwood )
A slow growing, deciduous shrub native to eastern North America from Manitoba to s. Quebec to Nova Scotia south to Arkansas to Georgia. it can reach up to 7 feet in height though the largest on record in much larger at 11 x 12 feet with a trunk diameter of 5 inches.
The foliage appears very early in spring and is lush green.
The alternately arranged, leathery, oval leaves are up to 5 x 3 inches in size and are smooth margined.
The flowers are borne in axilliary clusters before the foliage appears in spring.
The fruits are an oval drupe up to 0.5 inches in length containing a single seed.
The fruit is known to have a narcotic effect.
The tough, flexible branches are yellowish and the bark is gray, tough, leathery and fibrous. All parts of the plant are poisonous and can cause skin irritation.
Hardy zones 3 to 8 in sun or shade but are definately of better form in sun.
The Leatherwood does prefer moist, well drained soil.
. Shape young plants to a single trunk up to 12 inches in height to prevent ice damage. Branches split easily due to narrow crotches. Stumps do not resprout. Propagation is from seed sown immediately upon ripening or from layering.


* photos taken on August 3 2010 @ University of Guelph Arboretum, Ontario




Dirca occidentalis ( Western Leatherwood )
The western counterpart to Dirca palustris is a rare shrub native to moist wooded sites in the San Francisco Bay area of California only. It is very similar but the fruits are red.
Hardy zones 6 to 8