VillageHero from Ulm, Germany · CC BY-SA 2.0
About
Also known as Herbst's bloodleaf, this evergreen perennial is a popular ornamental plant, valued for its attractive foliage which can range in color from green to red or purple. It is notable for its ability to be easily propagated and its suitability for indoor cultivation.
Field notes
Morphology
The plant is perennial and herbaceous, reaching heights of 1 to 2 meters in the wild, though often pruned to a few decimeters in cultivation. It has opposite, stalked, simple leaves with circular, egg-shaped to heart-shaped blades, measuring 2 to 6 cm long. The stems are fleshy, branched, and can be reddish. The plant is dioecious, bearing compound inflorescences up to 20 cm long, composed of small, unisexual flowers.
Distribution & habitat
Native to Brazil.
Cultivation notes
It is popular as an ornamental plant and can be grown in gardens or indoors, provided it is kept cool during the winter. It is sensitive to drought but recovers quickly when watered. The plant can be easily propagated by cuttings or by placing cuttings in water.
Habitat
- Altitude
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- Altitude Class
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Cultivation
- Difficulty
- intermediate
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