Rauvolfia vomitoria, the poison devil's-pepper, is a plant species in the genus Rauvolfia. It is native from Senegal east to Sudan and Tanzania, south to Angola; and naturalized in China, Bangladesh, different ranges of Himalayan and Puerto Rico. The plant contains a number of compounds of interest to the pharmaceutical industry and is widely used in traditional medicine.
Poison devil's-pepper is resistant to disease and typically does not suffer from illnesses. As for care, this plant is fairly low-maintenance. When grown outdoors it needs only minimal watering, and larger specimens generally do not require pruning. Smaller plants, however, should be pruned after they finish blooming. Poison devil's-pepper is suitable for anyone with outdoor space, such as a garden or deck, and does not need a great deal of care experience.
How to keep Rauvolfia Vomitoria.
Light
Poison devil's-pepper originates from habitats like forest understories or rocky locations where it receives natural shade. It prefers partial sun but can tolerate full sun or full shade, which shows its hardy and adaptable character.
Temperature
Poison devil's-pepper comes from tropical areas, where the climate is generally warm and humid. Consequently, it is well suited to high temperatures and moisture. It does not tolerate sudden temperature changes and prefers a consistent thermal environment, so avoiding temperature fluctuations indoors is important. It typically cannot withstand cold and requires warmer conditions to grow. If ambient temperatures drop too low, the plant may stop growing or even die.
Fertilizer
Fertilizing is essential for the care of Poison devil's-pepper. Regular feeding during the growing season preserves the energy needed for its showy leaves and supports overall growth. Failing to fertilize can lead to unhealthy leaves, reduced ornamental value, and stunted or weak growth that is more likely to break.
Botanical profile.
- Plant Type
- Tree, Shrub
- Life Cycle
- Perennial
- Genus
- Rauvolfia
- Family
- Apocynaceae
- Hardiness Zone
- 10-12
- Mature Height
- 3.05 m to 10.06 m
- Mature Spread
- 2.13 m to 4.88 m
- Leaf Color
- Dark Green
- Leaf Type
- Evergreen
- Flower Color
- White
- Flower Size
- 0.51 cm to 1.02 cm
- Bloom Time
- Late spring, Summer, Early fall, Mid fall
- Planting Time
- Spring, Summer
- Harvest Time
- Late summer, Fall, Early winter, Mid winter
- Native Area
- Burkina Faso, Angola, Sudan, Nigeria, Congo, Guinea, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Uganda, Tanzania, Benin, Mali, Sierra Leone, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Liberia, Togo, Ghana, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Congo (DRC), Central African Republic
Other names.
