Brownea Grandiceps: the rose of Venezuela

Originally from South America, Brownea grandiceps is also known as “rose of Venezuela”. Today it is grown as an ornamental tree in tropical gardens, although its natural habitat is the Amazon forest.
If you want to learn more about this fascinating and exotic tree, read on.

Widespread especially in Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru and Colombia, the Brownea Grandiceps grows slowly, but reaches an average height. It arrives at about 10 meters in height and is an evergreen, with rigid descending branches. The leaves, on the other hand, can have a length that varies from 10 to 45 centimeters and are paripennate and pendants. It consists of about 10 pointed pinnules that can be oblong or lanceolate and are light green in color. They have a length that varies from 6 to 15 centimeters, for a width of about 2 or 3 centimeters. The young leaves, on the other hand, have a brown color with pink or white veins.
The fruits are brown and about 25 centimeters long pods, covered with a light down. The inflorescences, on the other hand, are about 20 centimeters long and grow in panicle, with a myriad of flowers, from 5 to 8 centimeters long.

Cultivation

If cultivation in the open air is not possible, it is good to grow it in light-filled greenhouses, in very large containers. The soil, as already mentioned, must be rich in humus, and it is necessary to add 30% of sand when the temperatures are above 12 ° in the coldest months.
The Brownea Grandiceps can reproduce by seed or by layering. In the first case, the seed must be placed in the home 1 or 3 weeks after harvest. Germination occurs after 1 or 2 months, as long as the substrate is rich in organic substance, at a temperature ranging from 22 to 24 degrees.
Cultivation must take place in tropical areas and can withstand temperatures close to 0 ° C for a very short time. Young plants need a slightly shady area to grow, while the more adult ones need a nice sun to grow healthy.
During the vegetative period, the substrate must be kept constantly humid, permeable and full of humus. The surface layer, however, must be dry during the vegetative stasis.
During the winter months, watering must be limited, while in summer it is good to water it abundantly and regularly.

Diseases and treatment

No specific diseases are known that could affect this plant. The only negative is that it attracts many bees and insects.

Curiosity

Some parts of the plant are used in traditional medicine, as they have a powerful haemostatic function.