‘Ilima
Sida cordifolia
- Native to:
- Angola, Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Caprivi Strip, Cayman Is., Central African Republic, Chad, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cuba, Dominican Republic, DR Congo, El Salvador, Eswatini, Ethiopia, French Guiana, Gabon, Ghana, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gulf of Guinea Is., Guyana, Hainan, Haiti, Honduras, Howland-Baker Is., India, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kenya, Laos, Leeward Is., Lesser Sunda Is., Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaya, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, New Guinea, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Socotra, Somalia, South Africa, South China Sea, Sri Lanka, Sudan-South Sudan, Sumatera, Suriname, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad-Tobago, U.S. Minor Outlying Islands, Uganda, United States, Uruguay, Venezuelan Antilles, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, Windward Is., Zambia, Zimbabwe
João Medeiros (www.flickr.com)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Malvaceae
- Genus:
- Sida
- Species:
- Sida cordifolia
- USDA Symbol:
- SICO
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual | Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb , Shrub , Subshrub
- Height:
- 150 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug,sep,oct
- Bloom Colors:
- white, yellow, cream
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
cotton tipworm (Crocidosema plebejana)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from root crown after fire or mechanical disturbance; common in disturbed tropical and subtropical habitats.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- thrives in disturbed areas with poor soil
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Scarification improves germination; seeds have hard seed coat. Warm temperatures (25-30°C) promote germination.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI