Paxistima canbyi A. Gray

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Credits

Article from Bean's Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles

Recommended citation
'Paxistima canbyi' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/paxistima/paxistima-canbyi/). Accessed 2025-05-20.

Family

Celastraceae

Genus

Paxistima

Other taxa in genus

Paxistima myrsinites

Glossary

apex: (pl. apices) Tip. apical At the apex.
calcareous: Relating to lime- or chalk-rich soils or water.
glabrous: Lacking hairs smooth. glabrescent Becoming hairless.
linear: Strap-shaped.

References

There are no active references in this article.

Credits

Article from Bean's Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles

Recommended citation
'Paxistima canbyi' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/paxistima/paxistima-canbyi/). Accessed 2025-05-20.

Commonly known as Canby's mountain lover or cliff green, Paxistima canbyi was introduced to Kew in 1893, where it has proved hardy. Here a specimen in full flower at Bokrijk Arboretum, Genk, Belgium. 14 April 2013. Image Guillaume Mamdy.

A low evergreen shrub up to 1 ft high, with linear or narrow-oblong leaves, 1⁄2 to 1 in. long, 3⁄16 in. or less wide, shallowly toothed towards the apex, the margins decurved; quite glabrous. Flowers very small, greenish, borne on very slender-stalked cymes 1⁄2 in. long in the leaf-axils. Fruits 3⁄16 in. long, white.

Native of steep rocky slopes in the mountains from Virginia westward as far as south-east Ohio and north-east Kentucky; introduced to Kew in 1893, where it has proved hardy. It is of no beauty of flower, and its only merit as a garden shrub is its neat low habit, for it does not bear fruit freely with us. It is also of scientific interest because of its restricted geographical distribution. It is mainly confined to W. Virginia and is said to be found only on calcareous soils. It blooms from May to August.

From the Supplement (Vol. V)

The flowers of this species are often stained with red, at least on plants growing in sun.

Paxistima canbyi has a very restricted geographical distribution, mainly confined to West Virginia in United States. This specimen unfortunately died after a series of dry hot summers. Meise Botanic Garden (19850296), Belgium. 13 August 2011. Image Guillaume Mamdy.