John&Jacq~s Garden

Psychotria elata is commonly known as Hot Lips Plant for the shape of its bright red bracts that resemble two luscious lips

Psychotria elata (Hooker’s Lips, Hot Lips Plants, Hot Lips, Mick Jagger’s Lips)

The plant has become internet-famous because of its flowers or rather the shape of the red bracts (modified leaves) before the flowers mature.

From these bracts tiny white, stare-shaped flowers emerge.

It is commonly known as Hooker’s Lips or the Hot Lips Plant for the shape of its bright red bracts that resemble two luscious lips.

Plant Profile, Culture and Propagation :

• Botanical Name: Psychotria elata (syn.: Uragoga elata, Callicocca elata).
• Common Names: Hooker’s Lips, Hot Lips Plants, Hot Lips, Mick Jagger’s Lips.
• Family Name: Rubiaceae.
• Etymology: The genus name, Adenia is derived from Aden, a snack seaport near the Red Sea from which the type species originated. The specific epithet macrophylla means big leaves in reference to the plant’s relatively large leaves.
• Origin: Native to the rain forests of Central and South American countries such as Columbia, Costa Rica, Panama and Ecuador.
  It widely cultivated elsewhere around the world.
• Plant type: A tropical tree with beautiful with bright red bracts.
• Features: Psychotria elata is from the genus  Psychotriathat consists of around 1,850 of species of flowering plants.It is a tropical shrub or small tree that rarely exceed 3 m tall.
  It is most recognized for its pair of bright red lip-shaped bracts surrounding small, white and tubular flowers.
  The “trunk” grows comparatively thin and often bent slightly from the weight of the foliage.
  The leaves grow comparatively long and thick in design.
  The plant has deeply veined simple leaves of matte green.
  The flower is actually a pair of modified leaves that pout around the tiny star-like white to cream flowers. From these bracts tiny white and stare-shaped flowers emerge.These become small bluish-black berries.
  The plant has become internet-famous because of its flowers or rather the shape of the red bracts (modified leaves) before the flowers mature. While the bracts present are red, the flowers show a bright white in colour.
  The flowers also become quite aromatic in nature.
  The berries that appear after the flowers stay small and are dark blue or black.

• Culture (Care): Psychotria elata or Hooker’s Lips can be easily grown with least maintenance.
  Light: Semi-shade.
  Moisture: Moderate water requirements.
  Soil: Humus-enriched soils.
  Others:
  Feed once fortnightly with a balanced liquid fertiliser to encourage growth and fruit production. Generally free from serious garden pests and diseases.
  Nonetheless, watch out for insect pests, such as caterpillars, beetles and other foliage-chewing insects that love its broad and juicy leaves.
  For subtropical and temperate regions: Hardiness: USDA Zone 10b-11.
  Growing Psychotria elata or Hot Lips plants requires a heated greenhouse or solarium, high humidity and shelter from harsh solar rays. Growing Hot Lips plant means mimicking the understory tropical environment for which it is suited. Most potting soil will not have both the excellent drainage and moisture retentiveness necessary to raise these plants. Add a bit of vermiculite and peat moss before potting up the plant. Place it in an area with temperatures of at 21ºC, humidity of at least 60% and indirect bright lighting.

• Propagation: Easily propagated from seeds.

• Usage: Psychotria elata or Hooker’s Lips is very attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds.
  Its bright crimson colour and unique shape helps attract bees, hummingbirds and other polinators to its petals. The presence of alkaloids in Psychotria elata has led to its common use as a medicinal plant within indigenous populations of Central America. It is also used as traditional medicine among the Amazon people to treat aches and arthritis, infertility and impotency.
  In addition to its visual appeal, the plant has provided several medicinal uses. Local inhabitants have learned to make use of both the bark and leaves. These can be used to treat coughs, earaches, and skin rashes. Also, the indigenous Kuna Indians have traditionally used the plant for treating dyspnea. Unfortunately, the species’ numbers are decreasing quickly as the ongoing rainforest deforestation has greatly diminished its available habitat.

External links:

• Wikipedia
• World of Flowering Plants
• Gardening Know How

Tags: flowering plants, green, ornamental, outdoor plants, perennials, red, shrubs, trees, tropical plants, white