Abrojo Colorado

Krameria ixine

Native to:
Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Leeward Is., Mexico, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, United States, Venezuelan Antilles, Virgin Islands, Windward Is.

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Krameriaceae
Genus:
Krameria
Species:
Krameria ixine
USDA Symbol:
KRIX

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Shrub
Height:
60 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
High
Bloom Months:
mar,apr,may,jun,jul,aug,sep
Bloom Colors:
pink, purple

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
bees
Deer Resistant:
Yes
Fire Ecology:
Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
Fire Notes:
Resprouts from root crown following fire; adapted to arid fire-prone habitats.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
sandy, nutrient-poor, well-drained soil
pH:
5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
dry to moderate
Notes:
Native to arid and semi-arid regions

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
Scarification:
Seed coat scarification required before sowing
Germination Time:
14–60 days
Notes:
Seeds have hard seed coats requiring scarification. Germination can be erratic.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI