Corkwood
Leitneria floridana
Last reviewed: October 2026
Corkwood (Leitneria floridana) is a perennial shrub native to FL, GA. It blooms in February and March.
Toxicity unknown
Corkwood (Leitneria floridana) 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
high
Size
72"–180" H × 48"–96" W
Bloom
Feb, Mar
Native to
FL, GA
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 460 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
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Browse plants for this ecoregion
Suckering colonial shrub with unusually soft, lightweight wood and inconspicuous catkin flowers that appear before the leaves in late winter. Forms thickets in swamps and along wet marsh edges.
Growing Corkwood
Grow Corkwood in full sun and high water. Mature plants reach 72 to 180 inches tall and spread 48 to 96 inches wide.
Wildlife value
Provides dense cover in wetland habitats; early flowers offer pollen for insects.
Common questions
- How much sun does Corkwood need?
- Corkwood grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Corkwood bloom?
- Corkwood blooms in February and March.
- Where is Corkwood native?
- Corkwood (Leitneria floridana) is native to FL, GA, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). 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 Corkwood? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.