Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Fabaceae

Genus:

Stylosanthes

Species:

Stylosanthes capitata

USDA Symbol:

STCA28

Growth Characteristics

Height:

60 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun

Drought Tolerance:

High

Bloom Months:

jun,jul,aug,sep,oct

Bloom Colors:

yellow

Ground Cover:

Yes

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

bees, butterflies

Fire Ecology:

Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire

Fire Notes:

Resprouts from crown after fire. Common in fire-prone tropical savannas and cerrado ecosystems.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

well-drained, sandy to loamy soil

pH:

5.0 - 6.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

dry to moderate

Notes:

prefers nutrient-poor conditions typical of native savannas

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

None required

Scarification:

Seed coat scarification required before sowing

Germination Time:

7–21 days

Notes:

Hard seed coat requires scarification. Pre-soaking in hot water or mechanical scarification improves germination rates significantly.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI