Clusia vs. Viburnum?

[Sandy Loam]

In extremely dry and sandy soil with no irrigation, do you feel that Clusia Rosea/Guttifera would thrive more than sweet viburnum?  

Location:  USDA zone 10a, central Florida USA. 

 

[Sandy Loam]

Nobody? 

[mnorell]

Definitely Clusia. Clusia utilizes CAM metabolism, which is highly unusual (I think it's the only genus in the dicots that uses it), otherwise only used by cactus, Euphorbia, orchids, bromeliads, and the like. This metabolic pathway allows plants to thrive in hostile, dry environments. You're not going to find that with Viburnum. The only issue is that frost will take its toll on Clusia, no doubt, whereas Viburnum will tolerate a bit of a freeze before dropping leaves or taking greater damage.

On the subject of Clusia: There is no "Clusia guttifera"...that is a made-up name for the trade, the plant sold either under that name or as "Clusia small leaf" is actually Clusia fluminensis, a species from Brasil, primarily. I think both C. rosea and C. fluminensis are similar in their requirements for frostless (or nearly so) conditions.

[Merlyn]

I like the idea of Clusia (small or large leaf) as a hedge, and am trialing it here.  It didn't get particularly cold last winter, with I think a minimum of 36F and mild frost.  My small ~2' tall plant didn't care.  It's in a nearly pure sand area in my yard, but I do have a 0.5gph dripper on it for 40 mins per day in the summer...every other day in the winter. 

If you like Clusia, then seagrapes might work too.  Mine took serious damage below freezing, defoliation around 28F with frost, and lost some trunks in the 26-28F area.  But they likewise were fine this winter.  They make a dense hedge if you chop the tops off to keep them 6-8' or so.