Cat's-claw

Pithecellobium unguis-cati
(Catclaw Blackbead)
Specimen shrub.  Thorniness makes it a good property edge hedge.

Tolerance

Tolerant of occasional/brief inundation such as can occur in storm surges.



Moderate. Tolerant of salty wind and may get some salt spray. Exposure to salt spray would be uncommon (major storms).

Considertions

Spiny

Wildlife

Birds eat the fruits (and the red&black arils).

Habitat

Dry coastal hammocks and shell mounds.

Did You Know?

  • Showy flowers, Thorns
  • Larval host  for cassius blue (Leptotes cassius theonus), large orange sulphur (Phoebis agarithe), and Miami blue (Cyclargus thomasi bethunebakeri) butterflies. 
  • Nectar plant for cassius blue, Florida duskywing (Ephyriades brunneus), Florida white (Appias drusilla), giant swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes), great southern white (Ascia monuste), hammock skipper (Polygonus leo), large orange sulphur, mangrove skipper (Phocides pigmalion), Miami blue, Palatka skipper (Euphyes pilatka), southern broken-dash (Wallengrenia otho), three-spotted skipper (Cymaenes tripunctus), twin-spot skipper (Oligorio maculata) and other butterflies.