Psychotriathat consists of around 1,850 of species of flowering plants.It is a tropical shrub or small tree that rarely exceed 3 m tall. It is most recognized for its pair of bright red lip-shaped bracts surrounding small, white and tubular flowers.The “trunk” grows comparatively thin and often bent slightly from the weight of the foliage. The leaves grow comparatively long and thick in design.The plant has deeply veined simple leaves of matte green.
The flower is actually a pair of modified leaves that pout around the tiny star-like white to cream flowers. From these bracts tiny white and stare-shaped flowers emerge.These become small bluish-black berries.The plant has become internet-famous because of its flowers or rather the shape of the red bracts (modified leaves) before the flowers mature. While the bracts present are red, the flowers show a bright white in colour.The flowers also become quite aromatic in nature.The berries that appear after the flowers stay small and are dark blue or black.
How to Grow and Care
Psychotria elata grows as a shrub or small tree. The plant has deeply veined simple leaves of matte green. The flower is actually a pair of modified leaves that pout around the tiny star-like white to cream flowers. These become small bluish-black berries. The bracts are only kissable for a short while, before they spread open to reveal the plant’s flowers. Psychotria Elatra plant has apparently evolved into its current shape to attract pollinators including hummingbirds and butterflies and its small blue fruits are dispersed by birds.
Hardiness:
Hardiness USDA Zone 10b to 11b: from 35 °F (+1.7 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
It is a unique plant most recognized for this pair of bright red lip-shaped bracts surrounding small, white, tubular flowers. This weird plant might look like the work of a photo editing software, but actually those kissable lips are all natural. Unfortunately, the plant is severely threatened due to habitat destruction and development. It is nearly impossible to get the plant or seeds here in the States. It is a common gift plant in Central America, however, usually for Valentine’s Day.
The plant can be difficult to grow and has very special cultivation conditions. Additional Psychotria elata plant info tells us that the plant is also called hooker’s lips and hot lips for the shape of its bright red bracts that resemble two luscious lips However hot lips is a little more family friendly.The presence of alkaloids in P. elata has led to its common use as a medicinal plant within indigenous populations of Central America. Interestingly, this plant contains the chemical dimethyltryptamine, a psychedelic. It is also used as traditional medicine among the Amazon people to treat aches and arthritis, infertility and impotency.
– Learn more at: How to Grow and Care for Hot Lips Plant
The flower is actually a pair of modified leaves that pout around the tiny star-like white to cream flowers. From these bracts tiny white and stare-shaped flowers emerge.These become small bluish-black berries.The plant has become internet-famous because of its flowers or rather the shape of the red bracts (modified leaves) before the flowers mature. While the bracts present are red, the flowers show a bright white in colour.The flowers also become quite aromatic in nature.The berries that appear after the flowers stay small and are dark blue or black.
- Scientific Name: Psychotria elata (Sw.) Ham
- Common Names: Hot Lips, Hot Lips Plants, Flower Lips, Hooker’s Lips, Mick Jagger’s Lips
- Synonyms:Cephaelis elata (basionym), Callicocca elata, Cephaelis costaricensis, Cephaelis phoenicia, Cephaelis punicea, Evea elata, Palicourea elata, Tapogomea elata, Tapogomea punicea, Uragoga elata, Uragoga phoenicia, Uragoga punicea
- Family: Rubiaceae
- Subfamily: Rubioideae
- Tribe: Psychotrieae
- Genus: Psychotria
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How to Grow and Care
Psychotria elata grows as a shrub or small tree. The plant has deeply veined simple leaves of matte green. The flower is actually a pair of modified leaves that pout around the tiny star-like white to cream flowers. These become small bluish-black berries. The bracts are only kissable for a short while, before they spread open to reveal the plant’s flowers. Psychotria Elatra plant has apparently evolved into its current shape to attract pollinators including hummingbirds and butterflies and its small blue fruits are dispersed by birds.
Hardiness:
Hardiness USDA Zone 10b to 11b: from 35 °F (+1.7 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
It is a unique plant most recognized for this pair of bright red lip-shaped bracts surrounding small, white, tubular flowers. This weird plant might look like the work of a photo editing software, but actually those kissable lips are all natural. Unfortunately, the plant is severely threatened due to habitat destruction and development. It is nearly impossible to get the plant or seeds here in the States. It is a common gift plant in Central America, however, usually for Valentine’s Day.
The plant can be difficult to grow and has very special cultivation conditions. Additional Psychotria elata plant info tells us that the plant is also called hooker’s lips and hot lips for the shape of its bright red bracts that resemble two luscious lips However hot lips is a little more family friendly.The presence of alkaloids in P. elata has led to its common use as a medicinal plant within indigenous populations of Central America. Interestingly, this plant contains the chemical dimethyltryptamine, a psychedelic. It is also used as traditional medicine among the Amazon people to treat aches and arthritis, infertility and impotency.
– Learn more at: How to Grow and Care for Hot Lips Plant
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