Rivina humilis aka Coralberry

Rivina humilis is a perennial known as rouge plant or bloodberry. Other names include rougeberry, baby pepper, and carpenter's herb. Kew places it in the family Petiveriaceae. Its native range covers tropical and subtropical parts of the Americas. This includes the Caribbean and much of Central America. The range reaches Argentina and Paraguay in the south. Northern records extend to Florida, Arkansas, Texas, and New Mexico. It is not native to Britain or Ireland.

The plant reaches about 3.3 feet (1 m) tall. It has a woody taproot and stems with woody bases. Kew describes its growth form as a subshrub. Useful Tropical Plants treats it as a herbaceous perennial. These accounts both describe a lasting plant with some woody growth. Its bright red berries provide its main garden appeal. Growers plant it for these fruits in tropical and subtropical gardens. People also gather the fruits from wild plants for dye.

In the wild, rouge plant grows in open woods and thickets. It also occurs in forests and on shaded waste ground. Its habitats include both moist and dry sites. It can grow as a weed among coffee crops. Most records come from low to middle elevations. In Guatemala, it reaches about 5,900 feet (1,800 m) above sea level. In cultivation, it can grow in sun or shade. The supplied sources give no frost limit or hardiness zone.

Its ability to spread can cause problems beyond the garden. Plants have escaped cultivation across many parts of the tropics. Several areas now class the species as invasive. Birds spread its seeds and help it reach new sites. Its weed potential matters when choosing it for a garden. The evidence describes this spread but names no pests or diseases. Propagation methods include seed, stem cuttings, and leaf cuttings.

The fruit yields a red dye for small objects. People have also used the dye as ink. An older account reports that the fruit is edible. Useful Tropical Plants lists no known hazards. Neither statement provides a detailed food-safety assessment. The same source records traditional leaf uses for wounds and catarrh. These are reports of use, not proof of medical benefit.