Hypelate trifoliata — an easy houseplant, prefers partial sun light
SPECIMEN · FROM THE LIBRARY
Hypelate trifoliata

Hypelate Trifoliata

Updated · 2 observations
ON THIS PLANT

Hypelate trifoliata, commonly known as white ironwood or inkwood, is a small tree in the soapberry family. It is native to extreme southern Florida and islands of the Caribbean. It has trifoliate leaves and produces small flowers in early summer.Hypelate is a monotypic genus.

A note from PlantMom

Butter bough shows strong resistance to disease and is generally not susceptible to illnesses. As for maintenance, this plant is fairly low-maintenance. When grown outdoors it needs only light watering, and larger plants typically do not need pruning. Smaller plants, however, should be pruned after they finish blooming. Butter bought is appropriate for anyone with outdoor space, such as a garden or deck, and does not demand much care experience.

— PlantMom
CARE GUIDE

How to keep Hypelate Trifoliata.

Light

Butter bough thrives naturally in shaded environments like forest understories or rocky regions. While its ideal sunlight condition is partial sunlight, it's also capable of adapting to both full sunlight and full shade, which substantiates its flexible and resilient characteristics.

Temperature

The butter bough plant hails from tropical locales, which are characterized by high heat and moisture. Consequently, it's naturally suited to thrive in warm, humid conditions. It's not fond of abrupt shifts in temperature and favors a consistent temperature setting, thus it's crucial to steer clear of indoor temperature swings. As this plant typically struggles in cold climates, it needs higher temperatures to facilitate its growth. If the surrounding temperature reduces considerably, the plant may halt its growth or even perish.

Fertilizer

Fertilization is essential for the care of Butter bough. Consistent nourishment throughout the growing season aids in maintaining energy for vibrant leaves and promotes general growth. Ignoring fertilization could lead to unhealthy foliage, reduction in visual attractiveness, and inhibited or fragile growth susceptible to snapping.

CHARACTERISTICS

Botanical profile.

Plant Type
Tree, Shrub
Life Cycle
Perennial
Genus
Hypelate
Family
Sapindaceae
Hardiness Zone
10-11
Mature Height
10.06 m to 14.94 m
Mature Spread
4.88 m to 7.92 m
Leaf Color
Dark Green
Leaf Type
Evergreen
Flower Color
White
Flower Size
0.25 cm to 0.51 cm
Bloom Time
Mid spring, Late spring
Planting Time
Spring, Summer, Autumn
Harvest Time
Mid summer, Late summer, Early fall
Native Area
Colombia, Bahamas, Belize, Cuba, Honduras, Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Jamaica
ALSO KNOWN AS

Other names.

en Inkwood en White ironwood en Hypelate
PLATES
Hypelate trifoliata leaf
PLATE 01 · leaf
Hypelate trifoliata flower
PLATE 02 · flower
Hypelate trifoliata flower
PLATE 03 · flower
Hypelate trifoliata fruit
PLATE 04 · fruit