Ochna integerrima (Vietnamese Mickey Mouse Plant)
Botanical names: Ochna integerrima, Ochna thomasiana
Common names: Vietnamese Mickey Mouse Plant, Hoa Mai, Mai Vang, Hoang Mai
Family: Ochnaceae
Origin: SE Asia
Ochna integerrima, commonly known as Mickey Mouse Plant, is a tropical shrub or small tree in the Ochnaceae family native to Southeast Asia. It typically grows 6 to 12 ft tall, forming a branching crown with glossy, elliptic leaves that emerge bronze-red before maturing to deep green. Bright yellow, five-petaled flowers appear in late winter to spring, followed by distinctive fruiting structures in which enlarged red sepals support several shiny black fruits, creating a striking color contrast.
This species prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil with moderate moisture. Growth rate is moderate under warm conditions. Cold tolerance is limited, with damage likely below 40F; best suited to USDA Zones 10 to 11. Ochna integerrima can be grown in containers when young but is most often used as a landscape plant in frost-free regions, where it is valued for its seasonal color display.
O. integerrima differs by having wider leaves with bristle-bearing margins rather than sharp teeth of narrow-leaved O. serrulata.
Hybrid variety Ochna Alba (Vietnamese name 'Bach Mai' meaning literally 'White Ochna') is very rare and does not produce seeds.
Similar plants: Ochna integerrima (Vietnamese Mickey Mouse Plant)
In Vietnamese, the variety of O. integerrima whose flowers have five petals is called Mai Vang (yellow mai), whereas Mai Nui (mountain mai) flowers have between five and nine petals.
A must for exotic plant collection, this is a rather slow growing, medium size shrub that can be trained into miniature tree. In winter the plant is covered with pretty bright yellow flowers, believed to bring good luck and prosperity. They are followed by cute shiny black berries on bright red sepals that resemble the face of Mickey Mouse. The plant is easy to grow and relatively cold hardy (to light freeze).
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