Cyclophyllum spp.

Coast Canthium

Rubiaceae

Northern and eastern Australia, New Caledonia, and the western Pacific

Attracts Pollinators Drought Tolerant Fragrant (light)

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 10–11

Overview

Cyclophyllum spp. is a genus of about 30 evergreen shrubs and small trees in the madder family, native to Australia, New Caledonia, and the islands of the western Pacific. Plants range from low shrubs to small trees 3-26 feet (1-8 m) tall, with opposite, glossy, leathery leaves and a bushy, twiggy habit. Small cream to white flowers are clustered in the leaf axils, are often fragrant, and are followed by rounded fleshy fruits that ripen black and are eaten by birds. The genus grows in rainforest, monsoon forest, vine thicket, and coastal scrub, often on the margins of forest and on a range of soils. Cyclophyllum coprosmoides, a coastal species of eastern Australia, is grown to a limited extent as a hardy screening and habitat shrub. As a group these plants tolerate warm, frost-free conditions and varied soils but are damaged by hard frost. Most are little known in cultivation and are grown mainly in native and habitat plantings rather than as ornamentals.

Native Range

Cyclophyllum spp. is native to northern and eastern Australia, New Caledonia, and the western Pacific islands. It grows in rainforest, monsoon forest, vine thicket, and coastal scrub, often along forest margins.

Suggested Uses

Cyclophyllum spp. is grown to a limited extent as a screening, hedging, and habitat shrub in warm coastal and subtropical gardens. The fleshy fruits draw birds, which suits it to wildlife and native plantings. In its range it is also a component of rainforest and coastal-scrub revegetation.

How to Identify

Identify Cyclophyllum spp. by its evergreen, opposite, glossy leathery leaves and bushy, twiggy shrub habit. Small cream to white flowers cluster in the leaf axils, often with a light scent, and give way to rounded fleshy fruits that ripen black. The paired glossy leaves and small axillary flower clusters mark it as a member of the madder family, separating it from the related Canthium spp. and Psydrax spp..

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height3' - 26'

Width/Spread3' - 15'

Colors

Flower Colors

white

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~6 weeks

Spring Summer

Flowering is mainly in spring and summer, varying with species and rainfall across its warm-climate range. The small cream to white flowers open in axillary clusters and are often lightly fragrant. Fleshy fruits follow over the warmer months, ripening black and drawing fruit-eating birds.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

cream to white

Foliage Description

glossy green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-9 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

sand loam clay

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

3-6 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Cyclophyllum spp. grows in full sun to part shade in warm, frost-free climates on a wide range of free-draining soils. Established plants tolerate coastal exposure, wind, and short dry spells, which suits the coastal species to seaside and screening use. They form a dense, twiggy bush with little care once settled and respond to light trimming. Hard frost damages or kills most species, restricting them to the subtropics, tropics, and frost-free warm-temperate areas. The plants need reasonable drainage and dislike heavy, waterlogged ground. Routine watering through establishment and mulch over the roots support early growth.

Pruning

Cyclophyllum spp. takes light pruning and trimming to shape and can be kept as a dense screen or hedge. Removing dead or straggly stems keeps the bush compact, and clipping is done after flowering where fruit is wanted. The shrubs resprout from the framework, so moderate cutting back is tolerated.