Blolly Plant Care

Blolly (Tapirira obtusa) belongs to the Anacardiaceae family within the Tapirira genus. Blolly is native to South America and can be found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela. Blolly is also known as Black Cabbage Bark, Crabwood.

Blolly displays a small to medium-sized tree growth habit, reaching up to 20 ft tall with a spread of approximately 15 ft. Blolly produces small clusters of white or cream-colored flowers.

Leaf size: approximately 6 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Blolly every 7–14 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established trees mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Blolly thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Tapirira obtusa tolerates temperatures of 60–85°F. Blolly prefers humidity levels of 50–80%. A pebble tray or humidifier helps maintain adequate moisture around the plant.

Well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Blolly to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Blolly every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established trees in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Blolly is suited to USDA Zone 13a.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped trees in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Blolly can spread to about 15 ft (4.6 m) and reach about 20 ft (6 m) tall. Space plants about 15 ft (4.6 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the tree spacing calculator.

Prune Blolly while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the tree in one year.

Blolly is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 13). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

Blolly can be propagated through seeds, stem cuttings. Similar propagation techniques also apply to hog plum plant care, which shares the same genus.

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Blolly is susceptible to aphids, scale insects, spider mites. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Blolly grows outdoors in USDA Zone 13a. It survives winters down to planting zone 13a. Blolly is native to South America and can be found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela. In cooler regions, grow Blolly as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.