Image - Wikimedia / Frank Vincentz
La periploca laevigata It is a shrub of tropical and subtropical origin that only grows to a maximum height of two meters. Although in its natural habitat it can take up a lot of space, in cultivation it can be pruned to keep its development controlled.
Its flowers are very, very pretty; in fact, when they appear sure (or almost 🙂) you will love them. Find out how to take care of it.
Origin and characteristics
Image - Wikimedia / Frank Vincentz
It is an evergreen shrub native to the Canary Islands, Savage Islands and Cape Verde, popularly known as cornicabra or cornical. It reaches 2 meters in height, with lanceolate green leaves that sprout from stems with a thickness of one centimeter.
The flowers are 2-3cm in diameter, with yellowish green petals at the ends and brown towards the inside. The fruit is a long, pointed pod with seeds.
Medical uses
The infusion of stems and leaves is used to wash the wounds.
What are their cares?
Image - Flickr / Salomé Bielsa
If you want to have a cornicabra specimen, we recommend providing it with the following care:
- Climate: live in places without frost. In fact, its presence in nature is an indicator of good weather.
- Location: outside, in full sun.
- Earth:
- Pot: use a mixture of substrates that is capable of quickly filtering water and that, in turn, is rich in organic matter. For example: equal parts perlite mulch, and a little earthworm humus.
- Garden: grows in fertile, well-drained soils.
- Irrigation: 3-4 times a week in summer, a little less the rest.
- Subscriber: from early spring to late summer with organic fertilizers, such as sheep manure, guano, or compost.
- Multiplication: by seeds in spring.
- Rusticity: does not resist frost. Grow outdoors all year round only if the temperature never drops below 0 degrees.
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