Search
Close this search box.

Little-leaf cordia

Cordia parvifolia

Description

This is somewhat interesting, but usually slowly growing plant that is very rarely available at nurseries in southern California. It is included on this site primarily for reference information, but we do not recommend you plan for it in a landscape design because you will not likely be able to find it.

Little-leaf cordia is an evergreen shrub with twisting branches and a mounding habit growing 8-12 ft. high and as wide. Small olive-green leaves, to 1/2 in. long are heavily veined; clusters of showy white flowers grow at the ends of branches in spring.

This species comes from desert areas of Baja California where it grows on rocky slopes, plains, sandy arroyos and silty bottomlands. It is well adapted to sun, heat, aridity and low amounts of summer moisture. This species is often used in southwestern landscapes where it is planted on slopes, for screening and in background areas. It develops and loose and open habit but can easily be trimmed to maintain a more compact and managed appearance.

Plant Type: Shrub
Foliage Character: Evergreen
Habit: Upright, Open, Mounding, Low-branching, Arching
Growth Rate: Moderate
Foliage Color: Dark green
Flower Color: White
Flower Season: Spring
Soil Adaptations: Well-draining soil, Silt, Sand, Rocky soil
Exposure Adaptations: Heat, Frost, Drought, Cold hardy, Aridity, All day sun
Function: Civic spaces, Banks, Background plant, Slopes, Screening, Residential spaces, Parks and open space, Flowering accent plant, Commercial spaces
Height: 8 ft. – 12 ft.
Width: 8 ft. – 12 ft.

Set your preferred view

Choose between a list or map view of all signs found in our waterwise garden and park.

Welcome to the Waterwise Garden Digital Tour

This is a digital registry created to offer further information on the physical signs in our waterwise garden and park premises.

Would you like a few tips on how to use this tool?

Move around

Travel to different sections of our garden and park premises by using the horizontal scrollbar at the top.

Locate your sign​

Using the map view, you can preview what each specific sign is about by tapping on the plus icon.

Refer back to these tips

You can view these tips at any time by tapping the Help link in the top left.