Quassia amara (Bitterwood, Amargo Bark)
Botanical Information
| Family | Simaroubaceae |
| Genus | Quassia |
| Species | amara |
| Type | Shrub (evergreen) |
| Origin | Guiana, Northern Brazil, and Venezuela. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses Disclaimer | Restores appetite, stimulates digestion, and treats various conditions such as fever, measles, malaria, diarrhea, dysentery, urinary tract disease, liver cirrhosis, alcoholism, diabetes, albuminuria, ulcers, and smallpox. |
Details
| USDA Hardiness Zone | 10 - 12 |
| USDA Hardiness Ref. | |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone | Requires cold season protection under glass. |
| Canada Hardiness Ref. | |
| RHS Hardiness Zone | H3 - H1b |
| RHS Hardiness Ref. | |
| Temperature (°C) | 1 - 15 |
| Temperature (°F) | 33.8 - 59 |
| Height | 3 m |
Description and Growing Information
| Propagation | By seeds and cuttings. |
| Cultivation | Best grown in full sun to partial shade with moist, well-drained soil. |
| Notable Specimens | Suan Packkad Palace, Bangkok, Thailand. |
| Habitat | An understory plant in rainforests and humid sites. |
| Leaf Description | Compound, alternate. |
| Fruit Description | Small drupe. |
| Colour Description | Flowers are red. |
Photographs
Quassia amara, Form
Quassia amara, Leaf
Quassia amara, Flower