Lipsticktree
Bixa orellana
- Native to:
- Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guam, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Palau, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname
Roger Culos
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Bixaceae
- Genus:
- Bixa
- Species:
- Bixa orellana
- USDA Symbol:
- BIOR
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 600 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul,aug,sep
- Bloom Colors:
- white, pink
- Evergreen Shrub:
- Yes
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, bees, butterflies
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- native to tropical regions with fertile soils
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 10–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily at warm temperatures (25-30°C). Fresh seeds have higher germination rates than stored seeds.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI