Ribbon Flower: Characteristics and Care Methods to Easily Grow This Tropical Ornamental Flowering Shrub

Ribbon flower is an evergreen shrub or small tree in the Rubiaceae family, native to tropical America, named for the bright red, spreading bracts on its inflorescence that resemble silk ribbon. Its actual flowers are not large; the ornamental focus is the large, vivid red bracts, which in full bloom unfurl in the wind like a string of red silk, blooming in the warm season with a fairly long ornamental period. It is said to be the national flower of Trinidad and Tobago and is much loved in its place of origin.

Ribbon flower prefers a hot, humid environment with ample light and is not cold-tolerant, making it suitable for open-ground planting in South China and other regions with warm winters, while elsewhere it is mainly grown in pots and moved indoors to a sunny spot to overwinter after temperatures drop in autumn and winter. For planting, choose loose, fertile, well-drained slightly acidic soil, and for open-ground planting select a higher spot that does not accumulate water.

In routine care, water according to the principle of letting the soil dry between waterings; potted plants must never sit in water for long periods, otherwise root rot and leaf drop easily occur. During the peak growing season, apply light fertilizer frequently, mainly well-rotted organic fertilizer or a balanced compound fertilizer, and increase phosphorus and potassium fertilizer as the flowering period approaches to help the bracts color up and bloom profusely. After flowering, prune spent flowers and overly dense branches appropriately, which both keeps the plant shape attractive and encourages new shoots.

Propagation is mainly by cuttings and grafting, carried out in late spring and early summer using robustly growing branches, taking care to maintain humidity and temperature, after which rooting is relatively easy. In landscapes it is often used as a specimen plant, in groups in courtyards, or placed at the center of flower beds; as a potted plant on a balcony or in a courtyard it is also very eye-catching, and its brilliant red inflorescence has a festive air.

Note that prolonged insufficient light will cause ribbon flower to grow leggy with sparse blooming, and after freezing in winter the leaves easily turn black and drop, so cold-protection measures should be taken in advance. As long as temperature, light and water are managed properly, ribbon flower is not difficult to grow and is a tropical ornamental flowering shrub worth trying in southern courtyards and on balconies.