Glandular Nakedwood: A Lesser-Known Puerto Rican Native
If you’re exploring native Puerto Rican plants for your tropical garden, you might stumble across the intriguingly named glandular nakedwood (Colubrina glandulosa var. antillana). While this native shrub isn’t exactly a household name in gardening circles, it represents an interesting piece of Puerto Rico’s natural botanical heritage.
What Is Glandular Nakedwood?
Glandular nakedwood is a perennial shrub that’s native exclusively to Puerto Rico. As a member of the Colubrina genus, it’s part of the buckthorn family and typically grows as a multi-stemmed woody plant. Like most shrubs, it usually stays under 13-16 feet tall, though environmental conditions can sometimes push it beyond those typical limits.
The botanical name Colubrina glandulosa var. antillana has a synonym you might encounter: Colubrina rufa var. antillana. Don’t let the multiple names confuse you – they’re referring to the same plant!
Where Does It Grow?
This shrub is found naturally in Puerto Rico, where it’s adapted to the local tropical climate and conditions. Its limited geographic range makes it a true regional specialty.
Should You Plant Glandular Nakedwood?
Here’s where things get interesting – and a bit challenging. While glandular nakedwood has the appealing qualities of being a true Puerto Rican native, there’s surprisingly little information available about growing it in home gardens. This isn’t necessarily a red flag, but it does mean you’d be venturing into relatively uncharted gardening territory.
The Reality Check
If you’re considering this plant for your landscape, here’s what we know and don’t know:
What We Know:
- It’s a native Puerto Rican perennial shrub
- It has typical shrub growth habits with multiple stems
- It’s adapted to Puerto Rico’s tropical climate
What Remains Unknown:
- Specific growing requirements and care needs
- Wildlife and pollinator benefits
- Landscaping applications and aesthetic qualities
- Availability from nurseries or seed sources
- Propagation methods
Growing Considerations
Given its Puerto Rican origins, glandular nakedwood would likely thrive in USDA hardiness zones 10-11, requiring tropical to subtropical conditions. If you’re in Puerto Rico or a similar climate zone, this plant might work in a native garden focused on preserving local flora.
However, the lack of readily available cultivation information means you’d need to do some detective work or connect with local botanical experts or native plant societies in Puerto Rico to learn more about successfully growing this species.
The Bottom Line
Glandular nakedwood represents an interesting piece of Puerto Rico’s native plant puzzle, but it’s not your typical garden center find. If you’re passionate about native plants and have access to local expertise in Puerto Rico, it could be worth exploring. Otherwise, you might want to consider better-documented native alternatives that can provide similar benefits with more available growing guidance.
For Puerto Rican gardeners specifically interested in supporting local ecosystems, connecting with local botanists, native plant societies, or university extension services might provide the missing pieces needed to successfully cultivate this lesser-known native species.
