Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Epiphyte
Herbs
Origin
Southeastern United States, Latin America and the Caribbean, Caribbean, Central America, South America
Mexico, Central America, South America
Types
-
Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin & Clemants
Number of Varieties
31
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Swamps
shrublands, tropical grasslands
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-13-9999
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
12-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 23, 24
H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
30.50 cm45.70 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
25.60 cm50.80 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Burgundy, Dark Red, Light Green, Violet, Dark Salmon
Green
Flower Color Modifier
Multi-Color
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Green, Light Green, Tan
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Long Linear
Lanceolate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Slow
Very Fast
Type of Soil
-
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Slightly Acidic
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall, Late Fall
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Bulbs, By dividing rhizomes, tubers, Divison
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Requires regular watering
Requires a lot of watering, Requires regular watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral, Slightly Acidic
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
-
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Pest Free
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
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
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, pollinators
Bees, Flies
Allergy
-
allergic reaction, Skin irritation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Bouquets, Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Cancer, Eye Problems
Detoxification, Insect Bites, Stomach pain, Treat Parasitic Intestinal Worms
Part of Plant Used
Bulbs, Flowers, Leaves
Leaves, Seeds
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant
Pesticide, The essential oil is used as insect repellent
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Mixed Border
Container, Herb / Vegetable
Botanical Name
PROSTHECHEA cochleata
CHENOPODIUM ambrosioides
Common Name
Clamshell Orchid, Cockleshell Orchid, Black Orchid
Mexican Tea
In Hindi
Clamshell Orchid
Dysphania ambrosioides
In German
Clamshell Orchid
Mexikanischer Drüsengänsefuß
In French
Clamshell Orchid
Épazote
In Spanish
Clamshell Orchid
Dysphania ambrosioides
In Greek
Encyclia Cochleata
Μεξικού τσάι
In Portuguese
Clamshell Orchid
Dysphania ambrosioides
In Polish
Clamshell Orchid
Komosa piżmowa
In Latin
Clamshell Orchid
Dysphania ambrosioides
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Orchidales
Caryophyllales
Family
Orchidaceae
Chenopodiaceae
Genus
Prosthechea
Dysphania
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
Epidendreae
Dysphanieae
Subfamily
Epidendroideae
Chenopodioideae
Number of Species
5030
1
27800
👆🏻