Black Titi (Cyrilla racemiflora), aka Swamp cyrilla is an evergreen, semi-evergreen or tardily deciduous tree that is native to Southeastern U.S. and indigenous in coastal areas from Virginia south into Texas. (USDA hardiness zones 5-11). Young plants are shrubby but eventually develop into a small tree with contorted stems, smooth, cinnamon-colored young bark and flaky mature bark.

Generally, Cyrilla grows 10-15 feet tall with sprawling, spreading branches. Foliage is lustrous dark green, 1.5 – 4 inches long, evergreen or deciduous. It is best grown in a moist to wet well-drained sandy loam that is high in organic matter and in full sun to partial shade. The tree tolerates drier sites provided adequate moisture is available. Several cyrilla trees form thickets that provide cover for wildlife.

Showy white clusters of summer flowers and orange-red fall color make this a nice ornamental tree for the home landscape. Plus, the pollinators and birds will love you for planting it. Grow this native tree as a specimen in a native garden, along ponds, streams, bogs, or other wet sites. Fruits are yellow-brown ovoid, dry capsule, 1/12 inch long; capsules contain 1-5 seeds, although only 1-2 seeds may ripen. Capsules appear from September and October and persists into winter.

Cyrilla is not for the small yard. It starts out as very aggressive grower and can be tamed (or managed) to fit into a 25–30-feet space over time with corrective pruning. It shrubby when young but can be trained into a small tree with contorted stems, smooth, cinnamon-colored young bark and flaky mature bark. 

Black Titi has no serious insect or disease problems.