Warszewiczia coccinea aka Chaconia

Warszewiczia coccinea is an evergreen shrub or tree in the Rubiaceae family. Its native range runs from southern Nicaragua into tropical South America. It also grows in the southeastern Caribbean, including Trinidad. Its South American range includes Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador. Colombia, Venezuela, and the Guyanas also form part of its range. It belongs to wet tropical habitats, including the Amazon rainforest.

The tree has a sparse crown with an uneven outline. One reference lists its height as 26 feet [8 metres]. The fuller account gives an upper height of 39 feet [12 metres]. Its trunk bends rather than growing straight. It measures about 0.5–0.8 feet [0.15–0.25 metres] across. The trunk remains roughly round despite its crooked shape. Its evergreen foliage gives the crown a lasting leafy cover. Red bracts mark the flowering stems and add garden interest. Trees may bloom through most of the year. Hummingbirds pollinate the flowers.

In the wild, it grows in open parts of rainforest. It favours valley floors and sites close to rivers. These sites have moist, rich soil with a clay content. Yet its habitat does not undergo regular seasonal flooding. In gardens, it grows in full sun or moderate shade. It prefers fertile clay soil that stays moist. Young plants grow at a moderate pace. The sources give no cold-hardiness zone or frost limit.

Gardeners plant this tree for ornament and landscape use. Growers can raise it from seed gathered when ripe. The seed needs a sunny nursery bed for sowing. Sow it on the surface, then water with care. Water should settle seeds into the topsoil without washing them away. Germination is often poor and takes about 30–40 days. Move small seedlings into separate pots once they can be handled. They may be ready for planting out six to seven months later.

People also gather the tree for wood and local medicine. The wood serves for light cabinet work and tool handles. It also provides firewood and material for charcoal. It has moderate weight and strength, but does not last well. A recorded medicinal use concerns bleeding, without naming the plant part. This report does not establish that the treatment works or is safe. The source records no known food uses or hazards. That lack of reports does not prove safety for people or pets.