Petiveria alliacea aka Strong Man Bush

Petiveria alliacea is known as guinea hen weed or garlic shrub. It belongs to the Petiveriaceae family. Its home range spans tropical and subtropical parts of the Americas. It grows from Texas and Florida south through Mexico. Its range also includes the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. It has spread into tropical parts of Africa and Asia. It grows wild, and people also plant it in gardens.

This evergreen perennial forms a small shrub with tough stems. Garden references give a height of about 3.3 feet [1 metre]. One account gives a wider range of 2–5 feet [0.6–1.5 metres]. Its stated spread is about 1 foot [0.3 metres]. A thick taproot reaches deep into the ground. Broken parts give off a strong smell like garlic. Sulphur compounds cause this scent in the roots and leaves. The plant grows fast where conditions suit it.

The flowers are small, but sources differ on their colour. One account calls them green; another gives white or near-white. The listed bloom season runs from late spring into mid-autumn. The fruit bears sharp spines that can pierce skin. This makes handling fruiting plants a painful task without care. Sources give no further details about the fruit's shape or colour.

It favours rich, moist soil and a site with partial shade. It also grows in sun and can cope with poor soil. Suitable soils include sand, loam, and clay, with good drainage. It accepts mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline soil. Sources place it in USDA hardiness zones 9–12. In Jamaica, it grows along partly shaded roadsides and rough ground. These sites range from near sea level to 1,180 feet [360 metres]. It has weed potential, including beyond its home range.

People grow it for traditional medicine rather than food. Reported uses include fever, diarrhoea, headaches, and earaches. These uses do not establish that home treatments work or are safe. Sources report no known edible use, and all parts taste harsh. Chewing leaves can cause severe changes in the mouth. The plant can build up nitrates and has poisoned cattle. People also use its leaves against insects. Roots placed among woollen goods help protect them from insect damage. Research cited by the sources reports effects against ticks and other pests.