Rondeletia leucophylla, Arachnothryx leucophylla

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

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As a small shrub, Rondeletia leucophylla is primarily suited as a bonsai specimen. It can also be used in borders and extensive gardens, as it reaches a maximum height of 2-5ft. This perennial is native to Mexico and is therefore ideally suited for growing in USDA Zones 9-11, but it can also be grown in colder regions if the following recommendations are observed for care in those zones.

Grown in full sun, the Panama rose does well in regular watering and can even tolerate occasional flooding in wetter climates. For maximum flowering and health, however, make sure not to overwater your plant. Pruning is rarely necessary as the plant will maintain its bushy, spreading shape.

Rondeletia leucophylla produces cheerful clusters of brightly colored, cup-shaped flowers. Bright pink in color with fragrant, star-like petals, the blooms appear from November throughout the early summer months and re-emerge with scattered blooms in the remaining months. It is especially attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds who are drawn to the blossoms for their sweet nectar.

Mature plants can tolerate temperatures as low as 30 degrees Fahrenheit for a short time, but they do not take well to frosts. It is therefore advisable to cover your plant when you are expecting frosts or provide a warm shelter in areas with cold winters. Container-grown plants should be moved indoors if temperatures dip below 25 degrees Fahrenheit. A light frost may cause leaf damage, but the plant should survive these odds and progeny normally.

Similar plants:

• Rondeletia odorata, Rondeletia speciosa, Rondeletia coccinea (Panama Rose)
• Rovaeanthus strigosus, Rondeletia strigosa (Panama Rose)