The Geiger-tree (Cordia sebestena) is a shrub or small tree native to the Caribbean region, but widely grown as an ornamental throughout the tropics and subtropics for its showy reddish-orange flowers. Although Florida is sometimes said to fall within its native distribution, it has been argued that it was almost surely introduced to the Florida Keys early in the 19th century, possibly by John Geiger, a ship captain residing in Key West (Hammer 2000; Wunderlin and Hansen 2008). However, Gann et al. (2008) claim that it is, in fact, native to Florida, stating that intensive research in herbaria indicates that this species is native to the Florida Keys and extreme southern mainland.

Sebesten sebestena (L.) Britton:
United States (North America)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Cordia sebestena L.:
Belize (Mesoamerica)
Colombia (South America)
Costa Rica (Mesoamerica)
El Salvador (Mesoamerica)
Guatemala (Mesoamerica)
Honduras (Mesoamerica)
Mexico (Mesoamerica)
United States (North America)
Panama (Mesoamerica)
Venezuela (South America)
Caribbean (Caribbean)
Nicaragua (Mesoamerica)

Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.

Cordia sebestena is widely planted as an ornamental throughout the tropics and subtropics. The boundaries of its native range appear to be controversial. It is clearly native to at least some islands of the West Indies, although Little and Wadsworth (1964) specifically state that it is not native to Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands. Its native range is sometimes claimed to include at least parts of Central and South America. There is also controversy about whether this species is actually native to Florida, or whether it was introduced to the Florida Keys in the early 19th century, as many have argued (Hammer 2000; Wunderlin and Hansen 2008. Gann et al. (2008) claim that intensive research in herbaria indicates that this species is indeed native to the Florida Keys and extreme southern mainland. Gann et al. give the native range as "south Florida, the West Indies, southern Mexico, and Central America".

United States

Origin: Exotic

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Unknown/Undetermined

Confidence: Confident

The Geiger-tree (Cordia sebestena) is a shrub or small tree (reaching about 7 to 8 m height, 15 cm diameter). The thick evergreen leaves are broad (10 to 20 cm long and 5 to 10 cm wide), long-pointed at the apex, and often toothed on the edges; leaves are very rough on the upper surface and usually hairy below. Twigs are hairy. The tubular, orange-to-red flowers (present year round) are about 4 cm across and clustered at the ends of twigs. The white, pointed, pear-shaped fruits are about 2.5 to 5 cm long with a large seed. (Little and Wadsworth 1964; Petrides 1988)

Small shrub or tree up to 8 m tall. Branchlets minutely pubescent on nerves, hairy. Leaves ovate, 8-16 x 4.5-10 cm, entire, coriaceous, undersurface minutely pubescent on nerves. Flowers 2-5 cm long, in terminal cymes, orange-red. Calyx 12-15 mm long. Corolla crinkly, lobes crenulate. Fruit c. 2.4 cm long, ovoid, whitish.

Cordia sebestena grows in poor soils and on seashores (Petrides 1988) and is often planted as an ornamental (Little and Wadsworth 1964). It flourishes in dry soils and is tolerant of salt conditions (Seddon and Lennox 1980). Gann et al. (2008) describe the habitat in South Florida as coastal berm, disturbed upland, and rockland hammock.

Fl. Per.: mostly throughout the year.

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: NNA - Not Applicable

Rounded Global Status Rank: G4 - Apparently Secure

Reasons: Occurs in southern Florida, most of the Antilles, the northern coast of South America, and in Yucatan, Mexico (Record, 1924).

The fruit of Cordia sebestena is edible, but not commonly eaten by people (Whistler 2000). The dark brown wood is heavy, hard, and close-grained and has been used in Latin America to make cabinets and furniture (Elias 1980).

The ‘geiger tree’ is a native of the W. Indies, S. W. USA. and Venezuela. Sparingly cultivated for its attractive cymes of large showy flowers. The fruit is edible.