Sideroxylon tenax, called the tough bully,[3] is a plant species native to Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and the southernmost part of North Carolina.

It grows on dry, sandy soil in pine forests, pine-oak woodlands, and hummocks at elevations less than 100 m.[4][5] Sideroxylon tenax is a shrub or tree up to 8 m (almost 27 feet) tall.

Stems are armed with thorns.

Leaves are up to 7 cm (2.8 inches) long, upper side green and sometimes shiny, underside covered with a layer of brown hairs.

Berries are very dark purple, almost black, spherical to egg-shaped, about 10 mm (0.4 inches) across.