Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Shrub |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Shrubby, Open |
| Maximum Height | 2 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | This cultivar is of horticultural origin. |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native (Horticultural / Cultivated Only) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Woody shrub up to 2m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Variegated leaves are elliptic, green in the centre with an irregular cream leaf margin and reddish leaf base. |
| Flowers | Orange to orange-red flowers are tubular with distinct, longitudinal ridges and minute, triangular lobes. They occur in branched clusters near the stem tips, connected by a dark red, inflorescence stalk. Flowering occurs throughout the year. |
| Fruit | It produces fleshy black berries which are eaten by birds like sunbirds. |
| Cultivation | This cultivar requires full sun, because only the green part of the leaf performs photosynthesis and requires more light to compensate for the white part which does not perform photosynthesis. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers, Ornamental Foliage |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens, Hedge / Screening, Flowerbed / Border |
| Thematic Landscaping | Butterfly Garden |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Bird-Attracting, Butterfly-Attracting (Flower Nectar) |
|---|---|
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) (Insects (Butterfly, Moth), Insects (Bee)) |
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Biotic (Fauna) (Vertebrates (Other Mammal)) |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water, Little Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Drought Tolerant, Well-Drained Soils, Saline Soils / Salt Spray |
| Potential Problems | Young plants can be attacked by aphids. |
| Propagation Method | Stem Cutting |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green, Red, White |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) | Green, Red, White |
| Young Flush Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Opposite |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Ovate, Elliptical) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire, Entire - Wavy / Undulate |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acute |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Orange |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Terminal |
| Flower Symmetry | Radial |
| Individual Flower Shape | Tubular |
| Inflorescence Type | Cyme |
| Flowering Period | Free-Flowering |
| Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
| Flower Colour(s) Remarks | Orange-Red |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Black |
|---|---|
| Fruit Type | Fleshy Fruit |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 30954 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 5340 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
