Wattapama

Poitea florida

Native to:
Leeward Is., Puerto Rico, United States, Virgin Islands
Wattapama

scott.zona

📍 View on iNaturalist →

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Fabaceae
Genus:
Poitea
Species:
Poitea florida
USDA Symbol:
POFL20

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Shrub , Tree
Height:
600 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
Medium
Bloom Months:
mar,apr,may,jun
Bloom Colors:
pink, white
Landscaping Shrub:
Yes

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
Butterflies & Moths:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
bees, butterflies
Salt Tolerant:
Yes
Fragrant:
Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
well-drained, sandy loam soil
pH:
5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
dry to moderate
Notes:
native to Caribbean regions with seasonal rainfall

Propagation & Germination

Scarification:
Seed coat scarification required before sowing
Notes:
As a legume, scarification of the hard seed coat is typically required for germination.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI