Bertolonia maculata

Bertolonia maculata is a small plant from Brazil. It stays green year-round and lives for more than two years. It belongs to the Melastomataceae family. Its common name is jewel plant. Its native range includes southeastern Bahia and Espírito Santo. It grows in wet tropical forests with warmth and moisture. In the wild, it can grow on rocks. This growth form makes it a lithophyte. It can also grow on other plants, as an epiphyte.

It reaches about 0.5 feet (0.15 metres) in height. Its full spread is also about 0.5 feet (0.15 metres). It is a herbaceous perennial: its growth is not woody. It is not a woody shrub. People grow it in large part for its leaves. Each leaf reaches about 0.25 feet (0.08 metres) long. The olive-green leaf blades have patches of paler green. A silvery-green stripe runs down the middle of each leaf. It may form one line or break into sections. The leaves also have stiff, bristly hairs. The species name refers to the spots on its leaves.

Rose-pink flowers grow in groups above the small plant. These clusters can bloom several times during the year. Bloom time is not just one set spring or summer period. Both the blooms and leaves add to its appeal. The leaf marks remain a key feature between blooms. Its small size and marked leaves suit growth under glass. Outside the tropics, a greenhouse is the advised place to grow it.

Grow it in part shade with moist, humus-rich soil. The soil should drain well, not hold pools of water. It thrives in hot air that stays humid. It needs a moderate amount of water, despite its wet tropical home. Cold limits where it can grow outdoors. It dislikes temperatures below 60°F and cannot stand frost. Missouri Botanical Garden lists USDA hardiness zones 11–12 for it. A greenhouse gives it the warmth it needs in colder places. Outdoor planting thus needs a frost-free site in the tropics.

Missouri Botanical Garden rates its care needs as medium. It reports no major problems with insects or disease. The plant still needs warmth and moisture to grow. Its main supported use is for show, as a small leaf plant. The sources do not establish uses for food or medicine. They also give no firm view on whether it is toxic.