Location specific values:
Array
(
    [lat] => 41.236900
    [lng] => -95.851600
    [elevation] => 298
    [rainfall] => 781.7495
    [cold_temperature] => -10.8808
    [temperature] => 31.0846
    [user_eto] => 1019.64880702
)

Plant specific values:
Array
(
    [rain_min_irrigation] => 742
    [eto_corrected] => 1556
    [eto_adjusted_rain_min (rain_min_irrigation / eto_corrected)] => 0.47686375
)
Para Cress (Blainvillea acmella) | Easyscape Plant Profile

Para Cress

(Blainvillea acmella)

Para Cress (Blainvillea acmella)

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Estimated Native Range
Species Map Help

Climate Requirements for Council Bluffs, Iowa

This Plant Your Site Plant Suitability for Your Location
• Precipitation 29" - 76" 31" You should be able to grow this plant with no additional irrigation. Excellent
• High Temp. 81°F - 93°F 88°F Your summer temperatures are normal for this plant. Excellent
• Low Temp. 47°F - 69°F 12°F Your winter temperatures are normal for this plant Excellent
This plant should grow very well at your location without additional irrigation.

Summary

Blainvillea acmella, commonly known as Para Cress, Spot Flowers, or Erva-Palha, is an evergreen herb native to tropical and subtropical regions of South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. It is typically found in disturbed areas, grasslands, and along roadsides. This plant exhibits rapid growth, reaching a height of 1-2 feet (0.3-0.6 meters) and a width of 1-1.5 feet (0.3-0.5 meters). Blainvillea acmella has distinctive yellow or red composite flowers that bloom in the summer and fall, attracting pollinators and adding a splash of color to the landscape.

The plant is valued for its ornamental flowers and is used in traditional medicine for its analgesic properties. It is suitable for border planting, as a ground cover, or in herbal gardens. Para Cress thrives in full sun and adapts to a variety of soil types, including clay, loam, or sandy soils, provided they offer medium to fast drainage. It requires moderate watering, making it relatively easy to maintain. However, gardeners should be aware that Blainvillea acmella can become invasive outside its native range, and its cultivation should be managed responsibly.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

  • Plant Type: Herb
  • Height: 1-2 feet
  • Width: 1-1.5 feet
  • Growth Rate: Rapid
  • Flower Color: Yellow, Red
  • Flowering Season: Summer, Fall
  • Leaf Retention:

Growth Requirements

  • Sun: Full Sun
  • Water: Medium
  • Drainage: Medium, Fast

Common Uses

Bee Garden, Edible*Disclaimer: Easyscape's listed plant edibility is for informational use. Always verify the safety and proper identification of any plant before consumption., Low Maintenance

Natural Habitat

Native to tropical and subtropical regions of South America, Central America, and the Caribbean, typically found in disturbed areas and grasslands

Other Names

Common Names: Para Cress, Spot Flowers, Canela-De-Urubú, Erva-Palha, Picão-Grande, Toothache Plant

Scientific Names: Blainvillea acmella, Acmella linnaei, Acmella mauritanica, Acmella mauritiana, Bidens acmella, Blainvillea alba, Blainvillea gayana var. lanceolata, Blainvillea hispida, Blainvillea latifolia

GBIF Accepted Name: Blainvillea acmella