Titi

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Cyrilla racemiflora

Last reviewed: September 2026

Cyrilla racemiflora, commonly called titi, is a small tree with slender drooping racemes of white flowers that bloom from March through August, typically found along swamp edges and wet pinelands in the Southeast.

Toxicity unknown

Titi (Cyrilla racemiflora) 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

part sun

Water

medium

Size

120"–360" H × 120"–420" W

Bloom

Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug

Native to

AL, DE, FL, GA and 6 more states

Pollinators

bees

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Piedmont Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain Southeastern Plains Southern Coastal Plain

Titi is a small to medium native tree that produces fragrant white flower spikes from spring through summer. It naturally grows in wetland areas and can tolerate both flooding and drought once established, making it adaptable to various garden conditions.

Growing Titi

Grow Titi in part sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 120 to 360 inches tall and spread 120 to 420 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Titi takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

Tree size exceeds typical HOA-friendly range

Wildlife value

The long blooming period provides nectar for bees and other pollinators from March through August. Birds often nest in its dense branching structure and eat the small fruits.

Common questions

When does titi bloom?: Titi generally flowers from March through August, with the timing varying somewhat by latitude and local growing conditions within its range.
What kind of site does titi prefer?: Titi grows best in consistently moist to wet, acidic soils, such as those found along swamp margins, pocosins, bay forests, and wet pine flatwoods.
Is titi attractive to bees?: Yes, titi produces abundant small white flowers that are heavily worked by bees, and beekeepers in parts of the Southeast have historically valued it as a nectar source for honey production.
Does titi keep its leaves year round?: Titi is best described as semi-evergreen. In the warmer, wetter parts of its range it holds leathery leaves through much of winter, while in cooler sites it drops more of its foliage.
How much sun does titi need?: Titi tolerates a range of light from full sun to part shade, but it typically flowers and grows most vigorously with at least several hours of direct sun and consistently moist soil.
Is Titi HOA-friendly?: Titi takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

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.

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Common questions

When does titi bloom?

Titi generally flowers from March through August, with the timing varying somewhat by latitude and local growing conditions within its range.

What kind of site does titi prefer?

Titi grows best in consistently moist to wet, acidic soils, such as those found along swamp margins, pocosins, bay forests, and wet pine flatwoods.

Is titi attractive to bees?

Yes, titi produces abundant small white flowers that are heavily worked by bees, and beekeepers in parts of the Southeast have historically valued it as a nectar source for honey production.

Does titi keep its leaves year round?

Titi is best described as semi-evergreen. In the warmer, wetter parts of its range it holds leathery leaves through much of winter, while in cooler sites it drops more of its foliage.

How much sun does titi need?

Titi tolerates a range of light from full sun to part shade, but it typically flowers and grows most vigorously with at least several hours of direct sun and consistently moist soil.

Is Titi HOA-friendly?

Titi takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Common plant problems, and what to check first

See all plant problem guides