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Parrots Beak
- Common Name: Parrot’s Beak, Hedgehog, Wild Sage
- Scientific name: Gmelina phillipensis
- Family name: Lamiaceae
- Origin: India and Southeast Asia
- Height: 10-15 ft
- Width: 10-15 ft
- Growth: Fast
- Zone: USDA zones 9a through 11
- Light needs: Full sun
- Salt tolerance: Low
- Soil/pH/Texture: Prefers moist, well-drained soil, such as a general potting mix. Prefers a slightly acidic or neutral pH (pH 6.1-7.3)
- Moisture: Water regularly- do not let the soil dry out or become overly waterlogged. This plant is tolerant of humid conditions.
- Drought tolerance: Low
- Pests/Diseases: Insect and fungal diseases may occur very rarely.
- Growing conditions: Grows best in a warm, sunny, and humid area with moist but well-drained soil. It grows quickly and can get very large, so give it plenty of room to grow. It can also be kept on a porch or patio as long as it is planted in a large container. For best results, it should be fertilized occasionally with a slow-release fertilizer that doesn’t contain salts.
- Characteristics: This bushy shrub is known best for its trailing, chain-like flowers. Leaves are lanceolate and ivy-like, and the bark takes on distinctive fissured texture as it ages. The flowers grow on tubular racemes which hang from the ends of branches. Each flower is bright yellow and resembles a parrot beak. The fruit is small, yellow, and inedible.
- Propagation: By seeds, air layering, or cuttings
- Wildlife: The flowers are pollinated by various flying insects. Fruits are eaten and seeds are dispersed by birds.
- Facts: This plant is commonly cultivated as a bonsai tree. This plant also has many medicinal uses, and the juice of the fruits and leaves are used in many regions to treat coughs and joint pain.
- Designer considerations: Due to its size and distinct characteristics, this plant is often planted off on its own as a specimen planting. It’s also a good choice for planting near a bench or sitting area, due to the shade it provides and the showiness of its flowers.
Parrots Beak
Location
Butterfly Garden