Ehretia rigida, commonly known as Pigeonwood or Bois Pigeon in French, is a small to medium-sized tree belonging to the Boraginaceae family. Native to tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, and Australia, this tree is notable for its various beneficial characteristics.
The tree typically has a straight trunk with rough bark and can reach heights of up to 10 meters. Its leaves are simple, alternate, and ovate with serrated edges, appearing dark green on top and lighter underneath.
Ehretia rigida produces small, white or cream-colored flowers with five petals, arranged in clusters at the ends of branches. These flowers bloom from late spring through summer.
The fruit of the plant is a small drupe that changes from green to black when ripe. It contains a single seed, which can be used for propagation.
This tree boasts numerous medicinal properties, including anti-inflammatory, antipyretic (fever-reducing), analgesic (pain-relieving), antidiabetic (blood sugar-lowering), and antimicrobial activities. These attributes make it valuable in traditional medicine practices across its native range.
In addition to its medicinal benefits, Ehretia rigida is also used for timber production, thanks to its hard wood, which is suitable for furniture making and other uses such as fuelwood production.
Puzzle bush is resistant to disease and is generally not prone to health problems. In terms of upkeep, this plant is fairly low maintenance. When grown outdoors it needs only minimal watering, and larger plants usually do not require pruning. Smaller plants, however, should be pruned after they finish blooming. Puzzle busht is suitable for anyone with an outdoor area, such as a garden or deck, and does not require much experience in plant care.
How to keep Ehretia Rigida.
Light
Puzzle bush is native to open habitats, such as sunny meadows and forest edges, where light is abundant. It performs best in Full Sun but can tolerate Partial Sun, adapting well to a range of light conditions.
Temperature
Puzzle bush is fairly adaptable to temperature, tolerating high heat and wide temperature fluctuations. In hot conditions, it's necessary to watch watering and provide suitable shade to avoid sunburn. Conversely, Puzzle bush is not very tolerant of low temperatures. Although it can endure some cold, excessively severe cold can cause frost damage.
Fertilizer
Timing is important for fertilizing Puzzle bush. Fertilize in early spring and then monthly through early summer. Fertilizer promotes lovely blooms and supplies energy during both dormant and active growth phases.
Botanical profile.
- Plant Type
- Shrub
- Life Cycle
- Perennial
- Genus
- Ehretia
- Family
- Boraginaceae
- Hardiness Zone
- 9-11
- Mature Height
- 3.05 m to 4.88 m
- Mature Spread
- 3.05 m to 3.96 m
- Leaf Color
- Dark Green
- Leaf Type
- Deciduous, Semi-evergreen
- Flower Color
- White
- Flower Size
- 0.51 cm to 0.76 cm
- Bloom Time
- Mid spring, Late spring
- Planting Time
- Spring, Autumn
- Harvest Time
- Summer
Other names.
