Virginia Tech Dendrology

lyon tree Rosaceae Lyonothamnus floribundus A. Gray symbol: LYFL2
Leaf: Opposite, evergreen, highly variable in shape, simple or pinnately compound, finely serrated to lobed (coarsely toothed), may resemble a fern, 3 to 6 inches long, dark green and shiny above, paler below.
Flower: Small (1/3 inch across), white flowers with yellow-green centers occur in large flat topped terminal clusters, appear in summer.
Fruit: Small, dry, brown capsules in large clusters, ripen in late summer and persist through the winter.
Twig: Slender, light brown and fuzzy.
Bark: Very attractive reddish brown, scaly and peeling.
Form: Large shrub or small tree up to 50 feet in height, generally with a narrow crown (conifer-like).

Additional Range Information: Lyonothamnus floribundus is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDA Plants Database
All material 2025 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information