Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Tender Perennial
  
Grass
  
Origin
Mexico, Central America
  
Africa, Middle Africa, Southern Africa, Madagascar
  
Types
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Habitat
agricultural areas, Loamy soils, Warmer regions
  
Grassland, Sandy areas
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-15
  
8-11
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
  
12 - 8
  
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
  
H1, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Spreading
  
Cushion/Mound-forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Fuchsia
  
Burgundy, Pink, Rose
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Not Available
  
Light Pink, Tan, White
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
  
Blue Green, Gray Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
  
Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
  
Blue Green, Gray Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
  
Purple, Gray Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Oval Cordate
  
Grass like
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Loam
  
Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
  
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
No
  
Tolerances
Dry Conditions, Soil Compaction, Sun
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
  
Container, Ground
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Cutting
  
Cuttings, Rooted stem cutting
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Do not let dry out between waterings, Do not water the foliage
  
Needs less watering
  
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
  
Soil Type
Loam
  
Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Pruning
A hard prune may be necessary if the plant becomes woody, Cut upper 1/3 section when young to enhancegrowth
  
No need to prune, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Fertilizers
Fertilize every three months
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Apply N-P-K
  
Pests and Diseases
Bacteria, Birds, Fungal Diseases, Red blotch
  
Disease free, Red blotch
  
Plant Tolerance
Dry Conditions, Full Sun, Salt and Soil Compaction
  
Drought, Shade areas
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
Yes
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
No
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Fine
  
Fine
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Beetles, Bugs, Insects
  
Not Available
  
Allergy
Acidic, allergic conjunctivitis
  
Not Available
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Hanging Basket, Landscape Designing
  
Bog Garden, Ground Cover
  
Beauty Benefits
Makes Hair Silkier, Making cosmetics
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Sometimes
  
No
  
Environmental Uses
Forms dense stands, Provides ground cover, soil stabilisation
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Stem
  
Not Available
  
Other Uses
Air freshner, Cosmetics, Showy Purposes
  
Not Available
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Sometimes
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Groundcover, Hanging Basket, Mixed Border, Tropical
  
Dried Flower / Everlasting, Bedding Plant, Cutflower, Edging, Mixed Border, Tropical
  
Botanical Name
HETEROCENTRON elegans
  
MELINIS nerviglumis
  
Common Name
Spanish Shawl
  
Ruby Grass, Zizka
  
In Hindi
Heterocentron
  
Zizka
  
In German
Heterocentron
  
Zizka
  
In French
Heterocentron
  
Zizka
  
In Spanish
Heterocentron
  
Zizka
  
In Greek
Heterocentron
  
Zizka
  
In Portuguese
Heterocentron
  
Zizka
  
In Polish
Heterocentron
  
Zizka
  
In Latin
Heterocentron
  
Žižka
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Tracheophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Myrtales
  
Poales
  
Family
Melastomataceae
  
Poaceae
  
Genus
Heterocentron
  
Melinis
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
  
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Tribe
Abreae
  
Paniceae
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Panicoideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available