Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Herbs
Origin
Latin America and the Caribbean
Mexico, Central America, South America
Types
Heliconiaceae
Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin & Clemants
Number of Varieties
1941
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Humid climates, Warmer regions
shrublands, tropical grasslands
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-15-9999
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
12-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 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
Thicket/Colonizing
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
60.00 cm45.70 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
150.00 cm50.80 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Yellow, Red, Green, Orange, Orange Red
Green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Red, Orange
Green, Light Green, Tan
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Lanceolate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Very Fast
Very Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
From Rhizomes, Micropropagation
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs
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
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Cut or pinch the stems, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Fertilize every two months
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Mealybugs, Nematodes, Red blotch, Soft scales
Pest Free
Plant Tolerance
Salt
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
-
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
Hummingbirds, Insects
Bees, Flies
Allergy
Toxic
allergic reaction, Skin irritation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Cottage Garden
-
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Food for birds
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Healing
Detoxification, Insect Bites, Stomach pain, Treat Parasitic Intestinal Worms
Part of Plant Used
Root, Seeds
Leaves, Seeds
Other Uses
Florist trade and landscaping
Pesticide, The essential oil is used as insect repellent
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Cutflower, Feature Plant, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Tropical
Container, Herb / Vegetable
Botanical Name
HELICONIA psittacorum 'Lady Di'
CHENOPODIUM ambrosioides
Common Name
Heliconia, Lady Di Heliconia, Parakeet Flower
Mexican Tea
In Hindi
Heliconia
Dysphania ambrosioides
In German
Heliconia
Mexikanischer Drüsengänsefuß
In French
Heliconia
Épazote
In Spanish
Heliconia
Dysphania ambrosioides
In Greek
Heliconia
Μεξικού τσάι
In Portuguese
Heliconia
Dysphania ambrosioides
In Polish
Heliconia
Komosa piżmowa
In Latin
Heliconia
Dysphania ambrosioides
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Zingiberales
Caryophyllales
Family
Heliconiaceae
Chenopodiaceae
Genus
Heliconia
Dysphania
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
-
Dysphanieae
Subfamily
-
Chenopodioideae
Number of Species
19830
1
27800
👆🏻