Gum Bumelia
Sideroxylon lanuginosum
Last reviewed: October 2026
Sideroxylon lanuginosum, or chittamwood, is a small to medium tree that blooms in May and June and handles hot, dry sites across the southern and central United States with little supplemental water.
Toxicity unknown
Gum Bumelia (Sideroxylon lanuginosum) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
420"–540" H × 120"–360" W
Bloom
Mar, Apr, May
Native to
AL, AR, AZ, FL and 11 more states
Pollinators
bees, beetles, butterflies, nectar insects
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 459 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
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Chittamwood is a slow-growing native tree that develops a rounded canopy and produces small, fragrant white flowers in late spring. The tree is drought-tolerant and provides excellent shade once established. The tree produces small blue-black fruits that are favored by wildlife.
Growing Gum Bumelia
Grow Gum Bumelia in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 420 to 540 inches tall and spread 120 to 360 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Gum Bumelia is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.
Works well in: front yard, mid zone, street edge.
Wildlife value
The flowers attract bees and beetles during the bloom period in May and June. Birds and small mammals feed on the berries produced later in the season.
Common questions
- When does chittamwood bloom?
- Chittamwood produces small clusters of flowers in May and June, typically before the fruit sets later in the season.
- What pollinators visit chittamwood flowers?
- The flowers attract bees and beetles, which feed on the nectar and pollen produced during the spring bloom period.
- How much water does chittamwood need once established?
- This tree tolerates low water conditions well and is often planted in dry, rocky, or limestone soils where irrigation is minimal.
- How much sun does chittamwood require?
- It grows best in full sun but can tolerate part sun to part shade, especially as an understory tree in woodland edges.
- Does chittamwood lose its leaves in winter?
- Chittamwood is generally deciduous, dropping its leaves in colder months, though leaf retention can vary by climate and site conditions.
- Is Gum Bumelia HOA-friendly?
- Gum Bumelia is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Gum Bumelia? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.