Wild Tantan

Desmanthus virgatus

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Fabaceae
Genus:
Desmanthus
Species:
Desmanthus virgatus

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Forb/herb , Subshrub
Height:
6-8 ft
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Bloom Months:
mar, apr, may, sep, oct, nov
Bloom Colors:
White
Landscaping Shrub:
Yes

Native Range

United States: Florida, Guam, Louisiana, Puerto Rico, Texas, U.S. Minor Outlying Islands, Virgin Islands

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Castor semi-looper (Achaea janata)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
pH:
5.5 - 8.0 (slightly acidic to alkaline)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
dry to moderate
Notes:
Adapted to arid and semi-arid regions

Germination Information

Pre-treatment: Cold-moist stratification for 30 days at 1–5°C (34–41°F).; then Scarify, then cold-moist stratify for 60 days.

Notes: Seeds may benefit from scarification before stratification.

Source: OpenAI GPT-4o