Back

Ruspolia hypocrateriformis (Vahl) Milne-Redh.

Family Name:	Acanthaceae
Synonyms:	Justicia hypocrateriformis
Common Name:	Red Ruspolia, Ruddy Rose, Pricklybush

Full Sun

Semi Shade

Moderate Water

Butterfly-Attracting Plant

Ornamental Flowers

Drought Tolerant

Shrub

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Name Status (botanical)
Synonyms
Common Names

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Shrub
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic
Maximum Height	1 m to 2 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution	Zimbabwe, South Africa
Native Habitat	Terrestrial (Grassland / Savannah/ Scrubland)
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Description and Ethnobotany

Others - Plant Morphology	Growth Form: Evergreen, woody shrub. Habitat: Occurs in low-lying bushland at an altitude of 800 - 900 m. It is considered a weed in Central Africa. Stems: Stems are angled. Foliage: Opposite leaves are ovate with entire leaf margin. Leaf apex may be acute or have a drip tip. Flowers: Salverform flowers have 5 pink lobes that vary slightly in size (3 cm long, 2.5 cm wide). One of the 5 lobes has a distinct red patch near the base of the petal, while the other 4 lobes may or may not have similar, but smaller red markings. The tip of the petal may be rounded or slightly pointed. Flowers are arranged around a spike inflorescence. Fruits: Dry, explosively dehiscent fruits are known as capsules. They are elongated and flattened like a paddle with a slightly wavy margin near the sharply pointed apex. They open lengthwise to release a few disk-shaped, dark brown seeds Seeds are attached to hook-like structures inside the fruit which may cause seeds to fly further away from the plant during dehiscence. Landscaping: This species is grown as an ornamental shrub for its showy pink to red flowers. It is ideal for attracting butterflies as a nectar plant. This species is fairly rare in the horticultural trade, so it would provide interest to your garden as a specimen plant. Cultivation: This species is fast growing and hardy. Mature plants are tolerant of both drought and heat. They should be grown in fertile, well-drained soil. Plant this species in full sun or light shade, because shady conditions inhibit flowering and result in leggy plants. Feed plants with a fertilizer rich in phosphorous to promote flowering. Avoid using nitrogen rich fertilizers, because they encourage development of leaves rather than flowers. Try not to prune this species frequently, because flowers are produced from the new growth. Propagation: Propagate by seed or stem cuttings. Cuttings will root easily and produce flowers within a year. Etymology: The genus "Ruspolia" was named after Italian naturalist Eugenio Ruspoli (1866-1893). The species epithet "hypocrateriformis" is Latin for salverform and refers to the shape of the flowers.

Others - Plant Morphology

Growth Form: Evergreen, woody shrub. Habitat: Occurs in low-lying bushland at an altitude of 800 - 900 m. It is considered a weed in Central Africa. Stems: Stems are angled. Foliage: Opposite leaves are ovate with entire leaf margin. Leaf apex may be acute or have a drip tip. Flowers: Salverform flowers have 5 pink lobes that vary slightly in size (3 cm long, 2.5 cm wide). One of the 5 lobes has a distinct red patch near the base of the petal, while the other 4 lobes may or may not have similar, but smaller red markings. The tip of the petal may be rounded or slightly pointed. Flowers are arranged around a spike inflorescence. Fruits: Dry, explosively dehiscent fruits are known as capsules. They are elongated and flattened like a paddle with a slightly wavy margin near the sharply pointed apex. They open lengthwise to release a few disk-shaped, dark brown seeds Seeds are attached to hook-like structures inside the fruit which may cause seeds to fly further away from the plant during dehiscence. Landscaping: This species is grown as an ornamental shrub for its showy pink to red flowers. It is ideal for attracting butterflies as a nectar plant. This species is fairly rare in the horticultural trade, so it would provide interest to your garden as a specimen plant. Cultivation: This species is fast growing and hardy. Mature plants are tolerant of both drought and heat. They should be grown in fertile, well-drained soil. Plant this species in full sun or light shade, because shady conditions inhibit flowering and result in leggy plants. Feed plants with a fertilizer rich in phosphorous to promote flowering. Avoid using nitrogen rich fertilizers, because they encourage development of leaves rather than flowers. Try not to prune this species frequently, because flowers are produced from the new growth. Propagation: Propagate by seed or stem cuttings. Cuttings will root easily and produce flowers within a year. Etymology: The genus "Ruspolia" was named after Italian naturalist Eugenio Ruspoli (1866-1893). The species epithet "hypocrateriformis" is Latin for salverform and refers to the shape of the flowers.

Landscaping Features

Desirable Plant Features	Ornamental Flowers
Landscape Uses	Focal Plant
Thematic Landscaping	Butterfly Garden, Naturalistic Garden

Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal

Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna	Butterfly Food Plant
Pollination Method(s)	Biotic (Fauna) (Insects (Butterfly, Moth))
Seed or Spore Dispersal	Abiotic (Explosive Dehiscence)

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Semi-Shade, Full Sun
Water Preference	Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate	Fast

Rootzone Tolerance	Dry Soils / Drought, Fertile Loamy Soils, Well-Drained Soils
Propagation Method	Seed, Stem Cutting

Foliar

Foliage Retention	Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green
Mature Foliage Texture(s)	Smooth

Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Opposite
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage (Ovate)
Foliar Venation	Pinnate / Net
Foliar Margin	Entire
Foliar Apex - Tip	Acute, Acuminate
Foliar Base	Rounded / Obtuse
Typical Foliar Area	Mesophyll ( 45cm2 - 182.25 cm2 )
Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio	4.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Dicot)

Non - Foliar and Storage

Bark Colour(s)	grey
Mature Bark Texture	Smooth
Stem Type & Modification	Woody

Root Type

Underground (Tap Root)

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality	Bisexual Flowers
Flower Colour(s)	Red
Flower Symmetry	Bilateral

Individual Flower Shape	Salverform
Flower Size - Remarks	2.5 cm wide
Flowering Opening Time	Daytime
Flowering Habit	Polycarpic

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s)	Brown
Fruit Classification	Simple Fruit
Fruit Type	Dehiscent Dry Fruit , Capsule

Image Repository

Images

Others

Master ID	1112
Species ID	2405
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.

Species record last updated on: 15 February 2022.