Melastomataceae

Miconia (genus Miconia)

Miconia

Medium ☀️ Bright indirect 🐾 Pet safe

Garden and restoration plants rather than pot plants. They want sun or part shade, moist soil rich in organic matter, and regular watering while young. Pioneer species grow well in open ground and draw many birds.

💧 Watering

Every 7 days

☀️ Light

Bright indirect

🌡️ Temperature

° - °C

💨 Humidity

% - %

What is Miconia?

Miconia (Miconia) is a medium-care plant from the Melastomataceae family. Miconia is a large genus in the family Melastomataceae, with about 1,900 species across the warm parts of the Americas, from Mexico to Argentina. They are shrubs and small to medium trees up to 15 metres tall. The leaves are opposite and have 3 to 5 veins that run from the base to the tip, a feature...

Miconia grows up to 15.0m, watering every 7 days. It is not suitable for indoor environments and safe for pets.

Unlike many popular species, Miconia is safe to keep around pets.

How to Care for Miconia?

TLDR: Miconia needs Bright indirect, watering every 7 days, and temperatures between 15-30°C with 40-70% humidity.

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How Often Should You Water Miconia?

Water once a week, more in hot weather, while the young plant establishes. Once settled, rain is usually enough; water during long dry spells.

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How Much Light Does Miconia Need?

Full sun or part shade. Pioneer species prefer open sun; forest-interior species accept more shade.

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What Is the Best Soil for Miconia?

Moist woodland soil with plenty of organic matter. Some species, such as Miconia ligustroides, tolerate waterlogged ground.

What Is Miconia and Where Does It Come From?

Miconia is a large genus in the family Melastomataceae, with about 1,900 species across the warm parts of the Americas, from Mexico to Argentina. They are shrubs and small to medium trees up to 15 metres tall. The leaves are opposite and have 3 to 5 veins that run from the base to the tip, a feature easy to spot across the whole family. The small white or pinkish flowers grow in clusters at the ends of the branches. The fruits are small purple, black or bluish berries that many birds eat, spreading the seeds. Many species are pioneers, among the first trees to grow in cleared land, forest edges and open ground. One species, Miconia calvescens, has become a serious invasive in Hawaii and Tahiti.

How to Propagate Miconia?

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Seed

Growing from seed is difficult. For many species, the most practical way is to transplant seedlings that come up on their own under mature plants.

1
Collect fully ripe purple or black fruits
2
Mash and rinse the pulp to free the very small seeds
3
Scatter them on fine, moist mix without covering
4
Keep in bright light and moist until they sprout

Materials needed:

Ripe fruitsSieveFine seed mixTray

⏱️ Time: 4-8 weeks to germinate 📊 Success rate: low 🗓️ Best season: Spring

How Big Does Miconia Grow?

TLDR: Miconia can reach up to 15.0m tall with Medium growth rate.

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Max height

15.0m

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Foliage

Evergreen

Plant Uses

🌺

Ornamental

Great for decoration

💊

Medicinal

Medicinal properties

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Medicinal Uses

Several species are used in folk medicine as astringents and anti-inflammatories

Is your plant showing symptoms?

Click on the symptom to discover possible causes:

🟡 Yellow Leaves 🥀 Wilting Leaves 🔴 Leaf Spots 🍂 Dry Tips 🍃 Falling Leaves 🪱 Root Rot 🐛 Pests 🍄 Fungus 🐢 Slow Growth

What Diseases Commonly Affect Miconia?

TLDR: Miconia is susceptible to 1 known diseases. Monitor regularly for early detection.

Caterpillars

High

Caterpillars are the larval stage of moths and butterflies that feed voraciously on plant foliage, stems, flowers, and fruits. Common species include cabbage loopers, tomato hornworms, armyworms, and cutworms. These pests can cause extensive damage by consuming large amounts of plant tissue in a short time. They vary in size from small (1/4 inch) to large (5 inches), with colors ranging from green to brown, often featuring stripes or spots. Caterpillars are highly mobile and can quickly spread throughout gardens, making them one of the most destructive common pests.

View solution

Fun Facts

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It is one of the largest genera of flowering plants in the Americas, with close to 1,900 species.

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Miconia calvescens, with leaves purple underneath, is nicknamed the green cancer of Tahiti.

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The name honours the Catalan physician and botanist Francesc Micó.

Frequently asked questions

Can I grow Miconia in a pot?

It is not ideal. Most are shrubs and trees up to 15 m, used in gardens, parks and reforestation.

How do I recognise a Miconia?

By the opposite leaves with 3 to 5 veins running from base to tip, the small white or pink flowers in clusters, and the small purple or black berries.

Why is Miconia calvescens a problem?

In Hawaii and Tahiti it spreads fast through bird-dispersed seeds and shades out native forest, so it is controlled there as an invasive weed.

Are the berries edible?

There is no reliable information on human use for the genus as a whole. The berries are bird food.

Compare with similar plants

Attribute	Difficulty	Light	Watering	Pet Safe
Dark Fieldcap	Medium	Low light	2d	⚠️
Azalea	Medium	Partial shade	3d	⚠️
Muriel's Bamboo	Medium	Partial shade	3d	✓
Bougainvillea	Medium	Direct sun	7d	⚠️

Choose & Compare

Sources & References

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