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Rubiaceae
Hooker's Lips
Psychotria elata
Tropical seduction.
- Family
- Rubiaceae
- Genus
- Psychotria
- Native to
- Central America, South America
- Bloom season
- Winter, Spring
- Type
- shrub
- Height
- 6-10 ft
- Sunlight
- part shade
- Soil
- rich, moist, humus-rich
- Water
- high
- Hardiness
- 10-12
- Lifespan
- perennial
Did you know
- The bright red lip-shaped structures are actually bracts, not petals -- the true flowers are small and white.
- The lip-like bracts evolved to attract hummingbird and butterfly pollinators in the rainforest understory.
- Psychotria is one of the largest genera of flowering plants with over 1,800 species worldwide.
- Due to deforestation in its native range, this distinctive plant is becoming increasingly rare.
- The genus name Psychotria derives from Greek 'psyche' meaning soul or life, referring to medicinal properties.
Color meanings
0
passion
1
allure