# Swamp titi (*Cyrilla racemiflora*) The swamp titi is a lovely tree that grows in wet areas. It has beautiful white flowers and can provide shade for animals and people alike. It's a special part of the swamp ecosystem! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Swamp titi](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Cyrilla_racemiflora_%E2%80%94_peganum_001.jpg&width=800) Photo: peganum, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cyrilla_racemiflora_%E2%80%94_peganum_001.jpg) ## Appearance The Swamp titi is a multi-stemmed shrub or small tree, featuring glossy dark green leaves that may turn crimson in fall. It produces showy, slender clusters of small, fragrant white to cream-colored flowers that hang gracefully. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Ericales - **Family:** Cyrillaceae - **Genus:** Cyrilla ## Interesting facts - In warmer climates, Swamp titi can keep its green leaves year-round, making it an evergreen tree! - Its common name 'titi' comes from its long, drooping flower clusters, resembling small plumes. - Swamp titi can form dense, almost impenetrable thickets, creating excellent shelter for wetland wildlife. - The wood of the Swamp titi is very hard and dense, historically used for crafting small tools. ## Special abilities - **Wetland Wonder:** Swamp titi can thrive in waterlogged soils and periodically flooded areas, allowing it to dominate challenging wetland habitats. - **Fire Rescuer:** Swamp titi has the ability to resprout vigorously from its roots after a fire, helping it recover quickly in fire-prone ecosystems. - **Pollinator Beacon:** Swamp titi boasts numerous small, fragrant flowers that attract a diverse array of insect pollinators, ensuring its reproduction. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 300-900 cm - **Spread:** 200-600 cm - **Flower Size:** 5-15 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Gathers nectar and pollen from its flowers. - **Eats:** [White-tailed deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Browses on its leaves and tender twigs, especially in winter. - **Shelter:** Green Tree Frog (*Hyla cinerea*) — Often rests among its leaves, blending with the foliage. - **Shelter:** [Black-and-white Warbler](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-and-white-warbler) (*Mniotilta varia*) — Forages for insects among its branches. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Cluster Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cluster-flower): Cluster flowers are inflorescences where individual flowers are arranged closely together on a common stem. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Be careful around wet areas and always stay close to an adult. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Swamp titi? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Swamp titi? 300-900 cm ### How wide does Swamp titi spread? 200-600 cm ### How big are the flowers on Swamp titi? 5-15 cm ### When does Swamp titi bloom? Late spring to summer ### Is Swamp titi edible? No ### Is Swamp titi toxic? None ### What is Swamp titi's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Ebenezer](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ebenezer) — Georgia, US · Neighborhood - [Metcalfe Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/metcalfe-historic-district) — Georgia, US · Historic District - [Singletary Lake State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/singletary-lake-state-park) — North Carolina, US · State Park [View all places to see Swamp titi](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/swamp-titi) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Swamp titi: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/swamp-titi)