Portia Tree
Thespesia populnea
- Native to:
- Aldabra, Andaman Is., Australia, Bangladesh, Bismarck Archipelago, Borneo, Cambodia, Caroline Is., China, Cocos (Keeling) Is., Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Fiji, Gilbert Is., Guam, Hainan, India, Jawa, Kenya, Laccadive Is., Lesser Sunda Is., Line Is., Madagascar, Malaya, Maldives, Maluku, Marianas, Marquesas, Marshall Is., Mauritius, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nansei-shoto, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Guinea, Nicobar Is., Niue, Oman, Palau, Philippines, Pitcairn Is., Rodrigues, Samoa, Seychelles, Society Is., Solomon Is., South China Sea, Sri Lanka, Sudan-South Sudan, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tonga, Tuamotu, Tubuai Is., U.S. Minor Outlying Islands, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Wake I., Wallis-Futuna Is.
Gannu03
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Malvaceae
- Genus:
- Thespesia
- Species:
- Thespesia populnea
- USDA Symbol:
- THPO3
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 1200 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- jan,feb,mar,apr,may,jun,jul,aug,sep,oct,nov,dec
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow, maroon
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, well-drained, nutrient-rich soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Commonly found in coastal areas and tolerates saline conditions.
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 7–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds have a hard coat; scarification or soaking in hot water improves germination. Fresh seeds germinate more readily.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Mechanical scarification and an overnight soaking in clean water.
Establishment: Seed capsules can be collected from the ground or picked from the tree once mature. The plant is believed to be native to Old World Tropics and naturalized in many Pacific Islands, the Caribbean, and areas of tropical America.
Source: npn.rngr.net