Lets Get to the Root of it!

Lets Get to the Root of it!

Plant of the Month

Hamelia cuprea RUBIACEAE [Yellow  Trumpet shrub] Lipstick plant


 Fondly called Lipstick plant here in the Cayman Islands the growth habit is erect; round shaped large bush. Mostly evergreen leaves are set swirling on the branches displaying a range of color from deep green, orange transitioning to copper with age. A show of summer yellow / red blooms begins at the end of season and will continue throughout fall. Some plants have pure yellow blooms, Butterflies and birds are attracted to its nectar.
Height: 15’ X 6’
Growth habit: Semi deciduous in March, it will readily put out new growth in spring. Slow to grow. Flowers: Yellow trumpets or yellow and red trumpets blooms many times a year.
Soil requirement: Loamy good soil.
Light requirements: Sun to partial sun
Environment tolerance: Fairly drought tolerant but not necessarily wind tolerant.
Nature attracting: Butterflies and birds

DISTRBUTION
Lipstick plant is locally found on all three Islands of the Cayman Islands; Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman.
Horticulture potential: Hamelia cuprea has a lot of potential. This erect tall shrub can be a really nice medium hedger or a single specimen tree. The multi color leaves are a very attractive feature, the large yellow blooms will light up your garden several times a year.
The fine root system is characteristic of the RUBIACEAE family; it is perfect for narrow urban landscape bedding weather in residential or commercial settings.
This is truly a beautiful large bush.
The supple branches tend to bend and not break in wind gust during hurricane season. 
Joanne Mercille
927-4246
 
 Hamelia cuprea is regionally found in Cuba, Haiti and the Cayman Islands, but not on the Bahamian
 Islands.
   

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