Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Fruit, Shrub
Perennial
Origin
South America
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Southwestern United States, Canada
Types
V. × heilbornii
-
Number of Varieties
040
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Mediterranean region, Subtropical climates, Tropical regions
marshes, meadows, Slopes, Upland savannas
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-114-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
11-9
9-1
Sunset Zone
H1, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
180.00 cm60.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
150.00 cm15.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow green
White, Purple, Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Light Yellow, Yellow green
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Palmate
Lance shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Vegetative Reproduction
Divison, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering
Do Not over Water, Medium
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun
Pruning
Remove shoots
Cut or pinch the stems, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Balanced garden plant fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Gray mold, Verticillium Wilt
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
-
Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Allergy
-
Dizziness, Nausea
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Beautification, Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Good for skin
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Digestive disorders
Anodyne, Antibacterial, Astringent, Diarrhea, Diuretic
Part of Plant Used
Fruits
Leaves, Root
Other Uses
Used in making champagne
Repellent, Used as a general tonic
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Cutflower, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Wildflower
Botanical Name
VASCONCELLEA x heilbornii
LIATRIS spicata
Common Name
Babaco, Mountain Papaya
Gayfeather, dense blazing star, prairie gay feather
In Hindi
Babaco
Gayfeather
In German
Babaco
Gayfeather
In French
Babaco
Gayfeather
In Spanish
Babaco
Gayfeather
In Greek
Babaco
Gayfeather
In Portuguese
Babaco
Gayfeather
In Polish
Babaco
Gayfeather
In Latin
Babaco
Gayfeather
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Brassicales
Asterales
Family
Caricaceae
Asteraceae
Genus
Vasconcellea
Liatris
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
-
Eupatorieae
Subfamily
-
Asteroideae
Number of Species
151
1
27800
👆🏻