Rolando Pérez, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institution
Family
Bixaceae
Botanical Name
COCHLOSPERMUM vitifolium
Plant Common Name
Brazilian Rose, Buttercup-tree
Special Notice
This entry has yet to be reviewed and approved by L2G editors.
General Description
Austere, barren skeletal branches are seen on the buttercup-tree for nearly half of the year, but the ornate yellow flowers in late winter remind you the tree is still alive. This fast-growing deciduous tree is native to the arid savannahs and scrublands of Mexico and Central America. The tree is upright in habit, but the awkwardly oval canopy reveals stubby, random branches. Bark is pale gray, adding to the tree's ghostly look.
The green leaves are palmately compound, looking like hands or grapevine foliage. The long petioles are red. Leaf undersides are grayish and the leaf edges are toothed. During extreme drought or winter chill, the leaves readily drop away. It's mainly deciduous for a long period from autumn to mid- or late spring. Very warm winters may delay entire leaf drop. From midwinter to very early spring, buttercup-tree bears its pretty, bowl-shaped blossoms. A flower has five golden yellow petals surrounding a central mass of curled orange stamens. Bees flock to the flowers for nectar. After pollination, a round capsule forms that is velvety. Inside, seeds are nestled in a fine, silky down. The foliage doesn't return until late spring when tropical rains return.
Grow buttercup-tree in full sun and a thoroughly well-drained soil. A dry, moderately fertile soil is perfect, but use restraint in fertilizing, as it can prevent flower production. Trees may be propagated from seed or sticking large branches into the soil to take root. Use buttercup-tree as a specimen in the frost-free rockery or water-conservation landscape. It may also be grown in a large planter box or used as a screen or low-cost living fence.
Variety plenum, the double buttercup-tree, produces flowers with extra petals that look like tiny roses. This tree typically doesn't yield any fruits or seeds.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
12 - 8
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USDA Hardiness Zone
10 - 14
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Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 23, 24
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Plant Type
Tree
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun
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Height
25'-40' / 7.6m - 12.2m
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Width
20'-30' / 6.1m - 9.1m
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Bloom Time
Winter, Late Winter
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Native To
Mexico, Central America
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
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Soil Drainage
Well Drained
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Soil type
Loam, Sand
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Tolerances
Drought, Salt
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Growth Rate
Fast
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Water Requirements
Xeric/Desert, Drought Tolerant
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Habit
Upright/Erect
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Seasonal Interest
Spring, Winter
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
Yellow
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Fruit Color
Tan, Brown, Sandy Brown
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Fruit Color Modifier
Bicolor
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Green, Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Dark Green
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Bark Color
White, Gray
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Fragrant Flowers
Yes
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
No
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Edible Fruit
No
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Foliage Texture
Coarse
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Foliage Sheen
Matte
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Evergreen
No
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Showy Bark
Yes
