Aphelandra squarrosa

Brazilian native range of Aphelandra squarrosa

Aphelandra squarrosa is native to north-eastern and south-eastern Brazil, where it grows as an evergreen tropical shrub in warm, moist conditions.

Indoor care for Aphelandra squarrosa

• Humidity and temperature: Temperatures above about 15°C suit it, together with moderate to high humidity. Gentle airflow around the broad leaves is useful in humid rooms.
• Water: Keep moisture fairly steady. When the surface starts to dry, water until excess runs from the pot, then leave it to drain.
• Light: Bright, filtered light is ideal, with a little early or late sun if the leaves are used to it.
• Maintenance: Snip off spent flower spikes. For fuller branching, trim an active stem directly over a healthy pair of leaves.
• Potting mix: A peat-free houseplant mix loosened with perlite or another coarse ingredient gives the roots enough air.
• Feeding: Every two to four weeks while it is making new growth, give a light feed at the rate on the label for indoor foliage plants.

Aphelandra squarrosa: leaf, root and pest problems

• Sudden drooping and dry mix: The mix has dried too far between waterings. Water the plant well and return to a steadier routine.
• Brown, crisp edges: Dry roots or very dry air can mark the leaf edges. Check both the mix and the room humidity, then correct whichever is low while keeping some airflow around the leaves.
• Yellowing with soft, wet mix: The roots are staying too wet. Delay the next watering until the surface has had more time to dry, and confirm that excess water can leave the pot.
• Sticky growth, cottony patches or shell-like bumps: These signs can come from aphids, mealybugs or scale insects. Check the affected areas and wipe or lift away small colonies by hand or with a damp cloth. If treatment is needed, choose one labelled for houseplants and use it exactly as directed.

Aphelandra squarrosa is non-toxic to cats and dogs

• This plant is non-toxic to cats and dogs.
• Its effects on people are unclear, so keep it away from young children who may chew it.
• Eating a large amount can still cause an upset stomach. Seek medical or veterinary advice if symptoms continue.

When was Aphelandra squarrosa first published, and what does it mean?

Aphelandra combines Greek apheles, meaning simple, with aner or andros, meaning man, a botanical reference to its simple one-celled anthers. The epithet squarrosa means rough or spreading and refers to the projecting bracts around the flower spike.

Robert Brown established the genus Aphelandra in 1810 in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae, page 475.

Christian Gottfried Daniel Nees von Esenbeck first described Aphelandra squarrosa in 1847 in Flora Brasiliensis, volume 9, page 89.