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.