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Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Melochia tomentosa (Pyramid bush)
Marcus, Joseph A.

Melochia tomentosa

Melochia tomentosa L.

Pyramid Bush, Teabush, Red Rope, Velvety Melochia, Kidney Bush, Woolly Pyramidflower

Sterculiaceae (Cacao Family)

Synonym(s): Melochia tomentosa var. frutescens

USDA Symbol: METO4

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), PR (N), VI (N)

 

From the Image Gallery

17 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Subshrub , Shrub
Root Type: Tap
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Inflorescence: Cyme , Umbel
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 8 feet tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Pink , Purple
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct , Nov
Bloom Notes: Flowers showy; hot pink or magenta.

Distribution

USA: FL , TX
Native Distribution: South Florida and South Texas in the US. Mexico, the West Indies and south to Brazil.
Native Habitat: Dry, open places on rocky limestone hills, in coastal thorn thickets, savanna, pineland, along roadsides, usually below 500 meters. (Goldberg).

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry , Moist

Benefit

Attracts: Butterflies
Nectar Source: yes

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
NPSOT - Williamson County Chapter - Georgetown, TX

Herbarium Specimen(s)

NPSOT 0469 Collected Jun 29, 1987 in Bexar County by Harry Cliffe

1 specimen(s) available in the Digital Herbarium

Web Reference

Webref 57 - Atlas of Florida Plants (2020) Institute for Systematic Botany
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Melochia tomentosa in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Melochia tomentosa in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Melochia tomentosa

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-05-23
Research By: Joseph A. Marcus

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