Tough bully is an evergreen or deciduous shrub or tree in the Sapotaceae family found from the southernmost part of NC south to FL. in the coastal plains. The tree will grow up to 30 feet tall and is evergreen in warm winter areas and deciduous further north. In spring clusters of tiny white fragrant flowers occur and are followed by berries that mature to purplish black that are attractive to birds and deer. The branches have thorns and the stems have a milky sap when broken. It prefers moist to dry, well-drained sandy soil with a humusy top layer in full sun. It has some tolerance for salty air but not salt spray. This plant can be used in the native, edible or naturalized garden. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Moist | Occasionally Dry | Very Dry
Mature size
Height: 12 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in. | Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Brown/Copper; Gray/Silver; Green; Red/Burgundy
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Ovate; Spatulate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Soft
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Shiny green leaves vary as to the area it grow in, and are up to 2.8 inches long. Undersides covered with silky silver or reddish-brown hairs. The base is cuneate to attenuate, margins entire, apex rounded to obtuse or retuse
Flower color
White
Flower value
Fragrant
Flower detail
Tiny white flowers in clusters of up to 40 flowers on short hairy stems
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Black; Green; Purple/Lavender
Fruit type
Drupe
Fruit value
Edible
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Oval green berries mature to purplish black
Bark color
Dark Brown
Bark detail
Bark brown, furrowed and narrow-ridged. The inner bark reddish-brown
Stem color
Brown/Copper
Stem detail
Brown stems are armed with thorns and exude a milky sap when broken.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Southeastern U.S.A., NC to FL
Distribution
FL, GA, SC, NC
Wildlife value
Bees and wasps drink the nectar. Birds and mammals eat the berries