Lantern Tree
Hernandia nymphaeifolia
- Native to:
- Aldabra, Andaman Is., Australia, Borneo, Cambodia, Caroline Is., Chagos Archipelago, Cocos (Keeling) Is., Comoros, Cook Is., Fiji, Gilbert Is., Guam, Hainan, Jawa, Kazan-retto, Laccadive Is., Laos, Lesser Sunda Is., Madagascar, Malaya, Maldives, Maluku, Marianas, Marshall Is., Mauritius, Myanmar, Nansei-shoto, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Guinea, Nicobar Is., Niue, Ogasawara-shoto, Palau, Philippines, Pitcairn Is., Samoa, Santa Cruz Is., Seychelles, Society Is., Solomon Is., South China Sea, Sri Lanka, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Taiwan, Thailand, Tokelau-Manihiki, Tonga, Tuamotu, Tubuai Is., Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Wallis-Futuna Is.
David E Mead
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Hernandiaceae
- Genus:
- Hernandia
- Species:
- Hernandia nymphaeifolia
- USDA Symbol:
- HENY
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Tree
- Height:
- 1500 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- jan,feb,mar,apr,may,jun,jul,aug,sep,oct,nov,dec
- Bloom Colors:
- white, cream
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
- Fragrant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, well-drained coastal soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- thrives in coastal and tropical environments
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 14–60 days
- Notes:
- Seeds are buoyant and dispersed by ocean currents. Fresh seeds germinate readily without pretreatment.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI