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Pavonia spinifex - (L.) Cav.

Common Name Gingerbush
Family Malvaceae
USDA hardiness 8-11
Known Hazards Seed pods awns may cause skin irritation
Habitats Forests, shrublands, savannahs; 0–100 m; Fla.; West Indies; introduced in Bermuda. Sandy woods and hammocks (stands of trees, usually hardwood, that form an ecological island in a contrasting ecosystem.)
Range Origin: North America, tropical Americas. Dominica, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, USA: Florida. In Florida, US it is found in seven counties north of Lake Okeechobee, from Duval to Brevard and Highlands counties.
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Half Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Pavonia spinifex Gingerbush


edibleplants.org
Pavonia spinifex Gingerbush
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Summary

A rough and hairy plant with a long taproot. Attractive leaves and showy lemon yellow flowers. A very good fibre crop with possible industrial applications. Other uses include a windbreak or hedge, cut flowers. Good for pots and garden beds. Wildlife Attractant: Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Pavonia spinifex is an evergreen Shrub growing to 1.2 m (4ft) by 0.5 m (1ft 8in) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Hibiscus spinifex L. Lassa spinifex (L.) Kuntze. Malache spinifex (L.) Kuntze. Pavonia aristata Cav. Pavonia spinifex var. grandiflora DC. Pavonia spinifex var. spinifex. Typhalea spinifex (L.) C. Presl

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

None known

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None Known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Tropical Plants

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

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Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Temperate Plants

Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

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PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital formats. Browse the shop for more information.

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Other Uses

A rough and hairy plant with a long taproot. Attractive leaves and showy lemon yellow flowers. The stem makes a very good fibre crop with possible industrial applications. Other uses include a windbreak or hedge, cut flowers. Good for pots and garden beds. Wildlife Attractant: Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds. Carbon Farming Solutions - Industrial Crop: fiber (Crops grown for non-food uses. Industrial crops provide resources in three main categories: materials, chemicals, and energy. Traditional materials include lumber and thatch, paper and cardboard, and textiles) [1-1].

Special Uses

Carbon Farming

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Industrial Crop: Fiber  Management: Coppice  Regional Crop

Climate: warm temperate to tropical. Humidity: semi-arid. Prefers moist well-drained soil. Sun to Partial Shade. US Hardiness Zones 8-11. Soil pH requirements: 6.1 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline). Humidity tolerant. Carbon Farming Solutions - Cultivation: regional crop. Management: coppice (Describes the non-destructive management systems that are used in cultivation) [1-1].

Carbon Farming

  • Industrial Crop: Fiber  Clothing, rugs, sheets, blankets etc. Currently, almost none of our fiber are produced from perennial crops but could be!
  • Management: Coppice  Cut to the ground repeatedly - resprouting vigorously. Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.
  • Regional Crop  These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Fahrenheit:

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed. Stem and tip cuttings

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Gingerbush, Shell Flower

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: United States (Florida, Georgia (southeast)) SOUTHERN AMERICA: Netherlands Antilles, Antigua and Barbuda (Antigua), Bahamas, Bermuda, Barbados, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis (Saint Kitts), St. Lucia, Montserrat, Martinique, Trinidad and Tobago (Trinidad), United States (Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, U.S.), Virgin Islands (British) (Tortola)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

None Known

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Tigridia pavoniaTiger FlowerCorm0.6 7-10  LMNDM31 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

(L.) Cav.

Botanical References

Links / References

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