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Palicourea spp.
Neotropics (Mexico, Caribbean, Central and South America)
Overview
Palicourea spp. is a genus of more than 200 species of shrubs and small trees in the coffee family, Rubiaceae, native to the tropical forests of Central and South America and the Caribbean. Plants generally grow 3-15 feet (0.9-4.6 m) tall as understorey shrubs, with some reaching small-tree size. Leaves are opposite, simple, untoothed, and 2-10 inches (5-25 cm) long, with prominent veins and small stipules between the leaf bases typical of the family. Flowers are tubular and carried in branched clusters whose stalks are often brightly coloured in red, orange, pink, or yellow, with the tubular flowers themselves in contrasting shades; this colour display draws hummingbirds, the main pollinators. The fruit is a small two-seeded drupe that ripens blue, purple, or black and is eaten and dispersed by birds. Many species, including P. marcgravii, contain sodium monofluoroacetate and are poisonous to grazing livestock in tropical pastures. The genus is frost-sensitive and confined to warm, humid, frost-free climates. Most species grow in shaded, moist forest understorey and decline in dry or exposed sites. Several species were formerly placed in the related genus Psychotria spp..
Native Range
Palicourea spp. is native to the Neotropics, ranging from southern Mexico and the Caribbean through Central America to Bolivia, Brazil, and northern Argentina. The genus is most diverse in the wet montane and lowland forests of the Andes and Amazon basin. It does not occur naturally outside the Americas.Suggested Uses
Palicourea spp. is grown in tropical and botanical gardens for its coloured inflorescences and as a nectar source for hummingbirds. Understorey species are used in shaded tropical plantings. The genus is also studied for its livestock-toxic compounds.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height3' - 15'
Width/Spread3' - 8'
Bloom Information
Flowering occurs through much of the year in wet tropical climates, often peaking in the rainy season. Coloured inflorescences hold tubular flowers that open over several weeks. Blue to black drupes follow and ripen unevenly along the cluster.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
red, orange, pink, or yellowFoliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 2-6 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight