Big Caltrop
Kallstroemia maxima
- Native to:
- Bahamas, Belize, Brazil, Cayman Is., Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Leeward Is., Mexico, Nicaragua, Panamá, Puerto Rico, Southwest Caribbean, Trinidad-Tobago, United States, Venezuelan Antilles, Virgin Islands, Windward Is.
Descourtilz, J. Theodore.; Descourtilz, M. E.; Pichard.
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Zygophyllaceae
- Genus:
- Kallstroemia
- Species:
- Kallstroemia maxima
- USDA Symbol:
- KAMA
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 60 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug,sep,oct
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow, orange
- Ground Cover:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 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:
- None required
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Scarification improves germination of hard seed coat. Warm soil temperatures preferred.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI