| Positive | Monocromatico | On Feb 8, 2004, Monocromatico from Rio de Janeiro
Brazil (Zone 11) wrote:This is a shrub or small tree from Brazil, living in a wide range of ecossystems, from the sandy plains of the brazilian coast to the savannas in the central plateau and the rainforests on the mountains to the southeast.
Considering the size when it blooms for the first time, it can be from 1 to 5 meters tall, or larger, depending on the environment. It has alternate, smooth, leathery leaves concentrated on the tip of the branches. The flowers are solitary. The open sepals are pink, and the closed petals (forming a cone, with a hole on the top) are yellow. The fruits are woody, conical and red, breaking irregularly when ripen, showing 3 to 6 seeds, covered with a red coat.
It doesn´t require an specific kind of soil and watering. The soil only must be well drained, and the watering must be regular. To grow it taller, it needs drained organic soil and constant watering. To keep it short, white sand with little organic matter and regular watering will do it. It also will do well in high to moderate temperatures, and full sun. |
