Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Columelliaceae

Genus:

Desfontainia

Species:

Desfontainia spinosa

USDA Symbol:

DESP4

Growth Characteristics

Height:

300 cm

Light Requirements:

Part Shade

Drought Tolerance:

Low

Bloom Months:

jun,jul,aug,sep

Bloom Colors:

red, yellow

Landscaping Shrub:

Yes

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

hummingbirds

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

rich, well-drained loamy soil

pH:

5.5 - 6.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

consistently moist

Notes:

native to cloud forests, prefers cool, humid conditions

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days

Germination Time:

30–90 days

Notes:

Seeds germinate slowly and erratically; requires cool, moist conditions.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI