Bixa orellana
Lipstick tree, Annatto, AchioteFamily: Bixaceae
Origin: Tropical South America
Bixa orellana, the enchanting Lipstick Tree, brings a splash of South American magic to any garden with its bold, heart-shaped leaves and charming pink blooms. But the real showstopper? Its vibrant seed pods brimming with annatto - a natural pigment famed for painting dishes with rich golden hues and spicing up kitchens worldwide. Annatto isn't just a culinary delight; it's a beauty secret too, adding natural, radiant color to lipsticks and cosmetics. Beyond its practical uses, Bixa makes a striking hedge or screen, adding both beauty and function. This tree is your garden's ticket to tropical flair and everyday usefulness!
Bixa orellana is a bushy shrub or small tree native to South America. It features large leaves and charming pink flowers, but its most notable feature is its seeds. These seeds contain a natural pigment called annatto, ranging from yellow to deep orange-red, which is widely used in cosmetics, particularly lipstick, for its vibrant colors. In culinary arts, annatto serves as a popular spice in Latin American, Caribbean, and Filipino cuisines, adding a mild, slightly peppery flavor and a rich yellow-orange color to dishes like rice and stews. Beyond its culinary and cosmetic uses, annatto seeds are also valued for their medicinal properties, offering antioxidants and anti-inflammatory benefits. The dried seed pods of the Bixa plant are also used in flower arrangements, adding a unique visual element. When used as a hedge or screen, Bixa should be pruned often to encourage bush growth at the bottom of the trunk.
