Cloven gum box facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cloven gum box |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Escallonia
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| Species: |
bifida
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| Synonyms | |
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Escallonia floribunda var. montevidensis Cham. & Schltdl. |
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Escallonia bifida, also known as the cloven gum box, is a type of plant. It is an evergreen shrub or a small tree. This means it stays green all year round. It belongs to the Escalloniaceae family. This plant is originally from Brazil and Uruguay in South America.
Contents
About the Cloven Gum Box
This plant can grow quite tall, up to 4 meters (about 13 feet) high. It can also spread out to 2.5 meters (about 8 feet) wide. Its leaves are dark green and shiny. They are usually 2 to 7 centimeters long and 0.8 to 2 centimeters wide.
Flowers and Appearance
The Escallonia bifida has beautiful pure white flowers. When they first appear, they are shaped like tubes. Later, they open up and spread out. These flowers usually bloom in the summer.
Where it Grows Naturally
This plant is native to parts of South America. You can find it growing naturally in Brazil and Uruguay. It has also started to grow in other places. For example, it is now found in New South Wales in Australia. This means it has become "naturalized" there.
Growing Escallonia in Gardens
People often grow Escallonia bifida in gardens. It does well in places with mild weather, especially near the coast. In the UK, for example, it can survive temperatures as low as -5 degrees Celsius (about 23 degrees Fahrenheit).
Because it grows very thick and dense, it is great for making tall hedges. These hedges can create privacy or divide parts of a garden. If the weather is colder, the plant might need protection. Sometimes, people plant it against a wall to keep it warmer.
The Escallonia bifida has received a special award. It won the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. This award means it is an excellent plant for gardening.
What its Name Means
The scientific name for this plant is Escallonia bifida. The second part of its name, bifida, comes from Latin. It means "cleft in two" or "split into two parts". This part of the name describes a feature of the plant.
See also
In Spanish: Escallonia bifida para niños
