Green cancer tree
Miconia calvescens · Melastomataceae
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around green cancer tree and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Foliage
- Evergreen, dark green, marked veins
- Flowering
- Summer to autumn, small pink or mauve flowers
- Adult size
- 2 to 4 m tall, dense bushy habit
- Growth
- Fast, very vigorous
- Hardiness
- Tropical to subtropical, fears cold (0°C)
- Origin
- Pacific Islands (Hawaii, French Polynesia)
- Soil type
- Acidic to neutral, well-drained, rich in organic matter
Care
Watering
Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged, especially during the growing season. Reduce watering in winter in temperate regions. Prefer soft water or rainwater, as this plant is sensitive to lime and appreciates an acidic environment.
Light exposure
Place your Miconia in partial shade or dappled light. Too much direct sun can scorch delicate leaves. In tropical zones, partial shade promotes better foliage coloration.
Pruning and cutting
Prune lightly after flowering to thicken the habit and remove dead or misplaced branches. This plant branches naturally; overly severe pruning can weaken its vigor. Regularly clean away dead leaves.
Soil and substrate
Prepare a light, acidic substrate mixed with potting soil, peat and perlite or fine bark. Ensure excellent drainage to prevent root rot. Organic mulch helps maintain soil moisture and acidity.
Fertilizer
Apply a balanced or slightly acidifying fertilizer during the growing season (spring-summer), roughly every 15 to 20 days. Reduce or stop feeding in autumn-winter. Avoid excess, which promotes weak growth.
Diseases and pests
Watch for mealybugs and spider mites indoors or in dry climates. Root rot can occur if humidity is excessive and drainage is poor. Good air circulation and moderate watering limit these risks.
Did you know?
Miconia calvescens, nicknamed the 'green cancer,' has become a major invasive species in Hawaii and French Polynesia, colonizing rainforests and threatening local biodiversity. Its spectacular growth and reproduction by bird-dispersed seeds make it one of the hardest plants to control in tropical ecology.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Miconia crenataMiconia crenata
- Malabar melastomeMelastoma malabathricum
- Miconia albicansMiconia albicans
- Maryland meadowbeautyRhexia mariana
- Miconia theizansMiconia theizans
- Virginia meadow beautyRhexia virginica
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.