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Phyllanthus spp.

leaf-flowers

Phyllanthaceae

Pantropical; Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Americas

Attracts Pollinators

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium

Overview

Phyllanthus spp. is a very large genus of flowering plants, with roughly 800 to 1,200 species in the family Phyllanthaceae, spread across the tropics and subtropics of the world. Its members range from small annual herbs only a few inches (5–15 cm) high to shrubs and forest trees reaching 60 feet (18 m), so growth form varies enormously across the genus. Many species show a pattern called phyllanthoid branching, in which small leaves are arranged in two ranks along short side branches so that the whole branchlet looks like a single compound leaf. The small flowers, which lack petals and are usually greenish, yellow, or reddish, hang beneath these branchlets, giving the common name leaf-flower. Fruits are small capsules or berries. The genus includes plants of economic use, such as the Indian gooseberry P. emblica, grown for its tart fruit, and P. niruri, used in traditional medicine, along with floating aquatic species kept in aquariums. Leaves of many species fold together at night. Because the genus is so varied, no single set of growing conditions fits all of its members, though most need warm, frost-free conditions.

Native Range

Phyllanthus spp. is pantropical, native to warm regions of Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Americas. Species grow in rainforest, savanna, wetland, and disturbed ground, and several have spread as weeds beyond their original range.

Suggested Uses

Phyllanthus spp. species are grown for edible fruit, as in P. emblica and P. acidus, for traditional medicine, and as ornamental and aquarium plants. Shrubby species are planted in tropical gardens and hedges, while floating species are kept in warm aquariums and ponds. Some are grown chiefly for their leaf-flower branching pattern.

How to Identify

Identify Phyllanthus spp. by its phyllanthoid branching, where two ranks of small leaves on a short side branch resemble one pinnate leaf, with tiny petal-less flowers and fruits hanging along the underside. The main stem bears only scale leaves, while the green photosynthetic leaves sit on the deciduous branchlets. Flower and fruit position beneath the branchlet is a reliable mark.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height4" - 60'

Width/Spread6" - 30'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Flowering time depends on species and climate, with many tropical kinds blooming through much of the year and seasonal species flowering in the warm, wet months. The small flowers are wind- or insect-pollinated. Fruit follows quickly, and in some species the ripe capsules split open and eject their seeds.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Small, greenish to yellow or reddish

Foliage Description

Green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-10 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

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Growing needs vary widely across Phyllanthus spp., but most species want full sun to light shade and warm, frost-free conditions. Tree and shrub species such as P. emblica grow in deep, well-drained soil with moderate water, while annual and weedy kinds tolerate poor, disturbed ground. Aquatic species are grown floating on still water in warm aquariums. Few species withstand frost, and in temperate regions tender kinds are grown under glass or as annuals. Most grow across a soil pH range of about 5.5 to 7.5. Several species self-seed freely and can become weedy where conditions suit them.

Pruning

Pruning depends on the type: shrub and tree species are shaped and thinned after fruiting, while herbaceous and weedy species need no pruning. Fruiting trees such as P. emblica are pruned to keep an open framework and an accessible height. Removing self-sown seedlings limits the spread of weedy species.