Rosarypea

Abrus precatorius

Native to:
Aldabra, Andaman Is., Angola, Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, Burkina, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Caprivi Strip, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Comoros, Congo, DR Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Guam, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gulf of Guinea Is., India, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Laos, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaya, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicobar Is., Niger, Pakistan, Palau, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, South China Sea, Sri Lanka, Sudan-South Sudan, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Uganda, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Fabaceae
Genus:
Abrus
Species:
Abrus precatorius
USDA Symbol:
ABPR3

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Vine
Height:
600 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
Medium
Bloom Months:
jun,jul,aug,sep
Bloom Colors:
pink, purple, white

Wildlife Benefits

Caterpillars:
★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Caribbean pod borer (Fundella pellucens)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
birds
Deer Resistant:
Yes
Salt Tolerant:
Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
pH:
5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
dry to moderate
Notes:
prefers open, sunny locations

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
None required
Scarification:
Seed coat scarification required before sowing
Germination Time:
7–21 days
Notes:
Hard seed coat requires scarification by nicking or hot water treatment. Seeds germinate readily after scarification at warm temperatures.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI