Photo from iNaturalist user Judson Collins

Photo from iNaturalist user orionid

Photo from iNaturalist user orionid

Photo from iNaturalist user crbnaturalist

Photo from iNaturalist user Alan Weakley

Photo from FANN dogtooth77

Photo from FANN dogtooth77

Phonetic Spelling kee-oh-NAN-thus ver-JIN-ih-kus Plant Type: Small tree Plant Height: 15’-30’ Plant Spread: 15’-30’ Sunlight Preference: Full shade to partial sun Soil Preference: Moist well drained soils, but can tolerate some drought once established. Uses in Landscaping: Accent tree in garden or along right of ways in neighborhoods. Ease of purchase/acquiring: Low availability at most nurseries or suppliers. How and When to Plant: Plant in winter when dormant and leaves are off. Moist yards don’t need much irrigation, water for the first couple months then keep an eye on it. Propagation: Seeds take 2 years to germinate and show leafy growth when planted in ground or in a pot. Charismatic/ID Features: Flowers/Fruits: Flowers are white and wispy and form in large clumps across the tree. They then develop into small blueish black fruits. Leaves: Leaves are opposite, simple, and lack any hairs on either surface. When leaves are crushed and sniffed immediately they can smell like tootsie rolls or chocolate. Leaves are deciduous so they will fall off in the winter. Bark: Bark is smooth and nondescript.