Jamaican Nettletree
Trema micrantha
- Native to:
- Aruba, Belize, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Leeward Is., Mexico, Navassa Island, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Panamá, Puerto Rico, Trinidad-Tobago, United States, Venezuelan Antilles, Virgin Islands, Windward Is.
João Medeiros (www.flickr.com)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Ulmaceae
- Genus:
- Trema
- Species:
- Trema micrantha
- USDA Symbol:
- TRMI2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 1500 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- mar,apr,may,jun,jul,aug,sep,oct
- Bloom Colors:
- green, cream
Wildlife Benefits
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Florida tussock moth (Halysidota cinctipes), Io moth (Automeris io), Martial Scrub-Hairstreak (Strymon martialis)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Moths:Florida tussock moth (Halysidota cinctipes)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, butterflies
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Pioneer species that rapidly colonizes disturbed and burned areas. Resprouts vigorously from the root crown after fire or cutting.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- often found in disturbed areas and secondary forests
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 14–60 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily after passing through bird digestive tracts. Fresh seeds may germinate without pretreatment but can be erratic.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI