Botanical Name: Homalocladium platycladum
Common Name: Ribbon bush, Tapeworm plant, Centipede plant
Type of Plant: dicot: shrub
Character evergreen
 
Habit of Growth:
Overall Shape upright, shrubby plant with odd flattened stems, leaves often missing; sprawling and spreading, oddly angular with age
Height 4-6'
Spread 4-6'
Growth Rate moderate
 
Environment:
Exposure outdoors full sun to half-shade
Soil most any soil
Hardiness some frost (zones 8, 9, 12-24)
 
Morphology:
Leaves small hastate 2" long, joined to flattened stems jointed at nodes – leaves often absent – structural branches normally shaped
Flowers tiny pinkish flowers at stem joints
Fruit inconspicuous red berry
 
Propagation:
softwood cuttings
 
Usage:
novelty plant for strange foliage and form, good in containers, tropical areas, small landscapes
 
Landscape Care:
Watering likes regular watering
Fertilizing none
Pruning thin out, head back to control size and form any time
Pests/Diseases none
Special Conditions/Other
 
Origin: Solomon Islands
Family: Polygonaceae

Notes:
 
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