Golden Pseuderanthemum

Overview

Pseuderanthemum maculatum is native to Solomon Islands to Vanuatu. It is introduced to many tropics countries such as in South-East Asia, Africa and America Latin. Excellent as an ornamental specimen plant or flowering shrub. Use it in flower bed or border and ideal for container planting. It makes great shrubbery when mass planted as screens or hedges because of their dense and colourful foliage and free flowering throughout the year.

Vernacular Names

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Agroecology

Pseuderanthemum maculatum grows easily with moderate care. It enjoys the sunny, humid and wet seasons of the tropics. Grows best in full sun or partial sun for vibrant foliage colours. Average water requirements. However, it thrives best with regular watering, especially during the hot and dry seasons. It likes high humidity. Prefers well-drained and fertile loamy soils.

Morphology

• Stem - woody, small round, much branched, yellowish green to creamy brown in colour.
• Leaves- simple, entire and ovate, 7.6-12.7 cm long, variegated and are arranged in opposite pairs along the stems. The variable leaves may appear in an assortment of colours depending on the amount of sunlight it gets and the age of the leaves.
• Flower - small white flat-faced flowers, 5-lobed with 2 fused together, and dotted with magenta-purple spots. Flowers are held in branched cluster on an upright spike at the branch tips. Flowers will eventually develop into small.
• Fruit - club-shaped fruiting capsules, each having 4 seeds.

Cultivation

Propagated by stem or tip cuttings that root easily on soil (vegetatively). Prune regularly to maintain preferred height and size, to encourage new growth and more blooms, as well as to keep bush dense and compact. It tolerates hard-pruning very well and should be applied to keep hedges neat and tidy. Feed once monthly with a balanced fertilizer.

Chemical Constituents

Anthocyanins, phenols and flavonoids.

Traditional Medicinal Uses

• The plant is used in the treatment of cold, back pain, headache, and fever.
• It has strong anti-oxidant properties.