Santa Cruz Island ironwood
Lyonothamnus floribundus
Last reviewed: November 2026
Santa Cruz Island ironwood (Lyonothamnus floribundus) is a perennial tree native to CA. It blooms in May and June. The flowers draw bees.
Watering reminders and freeze alerts for Santa Cruz Island ironwood, free in the app.
Toxicity unknown
Santa Cruz Island ironwood (Lyonothamnus floribundus) 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
medium
Size
360"–600" H × 180"–300" W
Bloom
May, Jun
Native to
CA
Pollinators
bees
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 461 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
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Upload a photo of your yard and Patch Vision shows a rendering of it planted with natives for your region, like Santa Cruz Island ironwood.
Browse plants for this ecoregion
An elegant single- or multi-trunked tree with shredding reddish bark and fern-like or strap-shaped evergreen leaflets depending on the form. Flat clusters of small white flowers appear in late spring.
Growing Santa Cruz Island ironwood
Grow Santa Cruz Island ironwood in full sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 360 to 600 inches tall and spread 180 to 300 inches wide.
Wildlife value
The spring flower clusters attract native bees, and the tree's dense evergreen canopy offers year-round shelter for birds.
Common questions
- How much sun does Santa Cruz Island ironwood need?
- Santa Cruz Island ironwood grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Santa Cruz Island ironwood bloom?
- Santa Cruz Island ironwood blooms in May and June.
- Where is Santa Cruz Island ironwood native?
- Santa Cruz Island ironwood (Lyonothamnus floribundus) is native to CA, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
- What pollinators does Santa Cruz Island ironwood attract?
- Santa Cruz Island ironwood draws bees.
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 Santa Cruz Island ironwood? Add it to your garden in the Pollinator Patch App to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.