Tropical Burnweed
Erechtites valerianifolius
- Native to:
- Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Leeward Is., Mexico, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, Venezuelan Antilles, Windward Is.
Andrés González (www.wikidata.org)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Genus:
- Erechtites
- Species:
- Erechtites valerianifolius
- USDA Symbol:
- ERVA10
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 150 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- jul,aug,sep,oct
- Bloom Colors:
- white, cream
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, butterflies
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Pioneer species that colonizes burned or disturbed areas; benefits from fire-created openings.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- moist, well-drained, nutrient-rich soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- good drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- often found in disturbed areas and open fields
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require light for germination; surface sow and do not cover.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI