Birdlime tree

Birdlime tree is a tropical shrub or small tree with soft leaves, terminal flower clusters, and distinctive sticky fruits. Kew currently accepts the name Ceodes umbellifera and lists Pisonia umbellifera as a synonym; regional flora still uses Pisonia and records Birdlime Tree as a common name. ### Form and fruit The tree grows in wet tropical habitats across parts of Asia and the Pacific, including Hawaiʻi. Flora of New South Wales describes it as an erect, spineless shrub or small tree with leaves arranged alternately, oppositely, or in clusters. Its ribbed fruits bear a viscid surface that can cling to birds and other animals, a characteristic reflected in its common name. ### Landscape character Use it where a tropical tree or large shrub can be accommodated and where sticky fruits will not create problems near heavily used paths. The species’ broad regional distribution means size and form can vary with climate and local growing conditions. ## Maintenance Provide a warm, moist site with room for the crown, and keep the root zone from drying during establishment. Check fallen or sticky fruits around paths and seating. Prune only to remove damaged growth or maintain safe access. Sources: [Kew Plants of the World Online, Ceodes umbellifera](https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:604437-1); [NSW FloraOnline PlantNET](https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?lvl=sp&name=Pisonia~umbellifera&page=nswfl).