Hydnophytum formicarum (Ant Plant)
Hydnophytum formicarum (Ant Plant) in terra cotta pot with green leaves and small orange fruit
Botanical name: Hydnophytum formicarum
Common name: Ant Plant
Family: Rubiaceae
Origin: Malaysia, Thailand
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
USDA Zone: 9-10
Plant form: Small; plant with caudex
Mature height: 2-5 ft
Sun exposure: Shade
Cold tolerance: Frost sensitive. Protect from freezing.
Watering: Regular; epiphyte. Needs light, frequent misting or soaking to stay hydrated.
Suitable for: Outdoors in the suitable USDA zone; small gardens, containers, and indoor growing
Foliage color: Ornamental foliageA curious 'ant-plant' epiphytic shrub, with large tuberous base 4" to 5" in diameter, without spines, and inhabited by stinging ants which excavate the tuber; several branches with opposite fleshy, oval leaves and small sessile, axillary white flowers and orange berries. The caudex is hollow, and forms a perfect nest for the ants, which protect the plant, and gets home and sweet sap in exchange. It's a epiphyte, and needs a lot of moist, but not much sun. It can be reproduced both by cuttings and seeds. The caudex will get op to 1ft, the branches 2ft. The plant needs high humidity.
Similar plants: Hydnophytum formicarum (Ant Plant)
Hydnophytum formicarum hangs from basket with large woody trunk and thin green branches
Hydnophytum formicarum (Ant Plant) hanging in a crate with thick roots and glossy green foliage.
Hydnophytum formicarum showing a thickened brown base and smooth green oval leaves
Hydnophytum formicarum brown woody tuberous base with small green leaves sprouting upward.
Hydnophytum formicarum (Ant Plant) with smooth green leaves and tiny white flower on the stem.
Hydnophytum formicarum (Ant Plant) with one orange fruit and small buds near green thick leaves.
Hydnophytum formicarum (Ant Plant) stem with smooth green leaves and tiny orange fruit segments
Hydnophytum formicarum (Ant Plant) showing smooth green leaves near a thick textured brown tuberous stem.
Hydnophytum formicarum (Ant Plant) stems with orange fruit clustered among simple green leaves.
Hydnophytum formicarum (Ant Plant) caudex with woody texture sitting inside a brown clay container.
Link to this plant:
https://toptropicals.com/catalog/uid/hydnophytum_formicarum.htm