Pavonia Species, American Cadillo, Gingerbush

An attractive flower but be warned that the spiny seed pods have "awns," which Webster's Dictionary says are "slender, bristle like . . ....Read More found at the tips of the spikelets in many grasses," and these awns can get snagged on your, or a child's, clothing, or on pet fur, and then wriggle themselves into the skin, irritating it. In trying to remove them, the awns can even brreak off under the skin, making removal even more difficult. I have four dogs, so I will never plant this plant here in Northcentral Florida, zone 8b, where it could possibly naturalize.

Spinifex means "bearing spines," so even the name is a warning! The plant is also called "Gingerbush," but haven't found out why.

I have several of these in my shade garden and they bloom constantly. The only pest problem I have with these are deer -- they love thes...Read Moree plants too!

The leaves have ovate blades about 4" long, and the petals are yellow, an inch long or longer. The name refers to spines on the seed pod...Read Mores, which are very conspicuous.

The plant is rough and hairy. It grows in sandy woods and hammocks in Florida and northward perhaps as far as South Carollina.