Sideroxylon foetidissimum
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Sideroxylon foetidissimum

Barbados-mastic · False mastic · Yellow mastic · Mastic Tree · Mastic

Tier 2 Difficulty: easy Water: low Light: full_sun
Temperature
20–37 °C
Soil pH
6–7
Hardiness
Zone 10–11
Click count
101
Observations
23

Description

Source: leafsnap

Sideroxylon foetidissimum, commonly known as false mastic or yellow mastic, is a species of flowering plant in the family Sapotaceae. It is native to Florida in the United States, the Caribbean, and northern Central America.

Care Guide

💧 Water
☀️ Light Full sun

False mastic comes from open habitats, such as sunlit meadows and forest margins, which supply plentiful light. It does best in full sun but can endure partial sun, showing adaptability to different light conditions.

Ideal: Full sun
🌡️ Temperature 20–37.8°C

False mastic comes from tropical areas, where the climate is usually warm and humid. Consequently, it is adapted to high temperatures and humidity. It does not tolerate sudden temperature changes and prefers a consistent temperature, so avoiding indoor temperature fluctuations is important. It typically cannot withstand cold and needs warmer conditions for growth. If the surrounding temperature falls too low, the plant may stop growing or even die.

Ideal temperature: 20–37.8°C
💨 Humidity
Humidity:
🪴 Soil 6-7
Soil pH: 6-7
🌱 Fertilizer

Fertilizing is essential for the care of False mastic. Regular feeding during the growing season maintains the energy needed for its showy leaves and promotes overall growth. Failing to fertilize can lead to unhealthy foliage, reduced ornamental value, and stunted or weak growth that is prone to breaking.

🪴 Pot & Repot
✂️ Pruning
🌿 Propagating
🐛 Diseases & pets
☠️ Toxicity

Characteristics

Plant Type
Tree
Life Cycle
Perennial
Genus
Sideroxylon
Family
Sapotaceae
Hardiness Zone
10-11
Mature Height
10.97 m to 21.95 m
Mature Spread
10.06 m to 14.94 m
Leaf Color
Dark Green, Forest Green
Leaf Type
Evergreen
Flower Color
White
Flower Size
0.51 cm to 0.76 cm
Bloom Time
Early summer, Mid summer
Planting Time
Spring, Summer, Autumn
Harvest Time
Late summer, Early fall, Mid fall

Tags (5)

Common Names (7)

en Barbados-mastic
en False mastic
en Yellow mastic
en Mastic Tree
en Mastic
en Akouma
en Mast wood