Tahitian Gooseberry Tree
Phyllanthus acidus
- Native to:
- Brazil, Hawaii, United States
No machine-readable author provided. Hans B.~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claims).
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Phyllanthaceae
- Genus:
- Phyllanthus
- Species:
- Phyllanthus acidus
- USDA Symbol:
- PHAC3
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 900 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- mar,apr,may
- Bloom Colors:
- pink, red
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Cacocharis cymotoma, Melanchroia geometroides, white-tipped black (Melanchroia chephise)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds
- Fragrant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 6.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Prefers organic matter-rich soils
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Fresh seeds germinate readily without pretreatment. Seeds lose viability quickly if dried.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI