Voacanga THOUARSII

Voacanga THOUARSII - Voacanga thouarsii, Wild frangipani.

Voacanga is a genus in the dogbane family (Apocynaceae), including about twelve accepted species. They grow in tropical Africa, Madagascar, Southeast Asia, and northern Australia, predominantly in moist forests and along riverbanks.

The plants are small trees and shrubs with opposite, large, leathery leaves and milky sap characteristic of the entire family.

The flowers are gathered in terminal inflorescences, creamy-white or yellowish, with five recurved corolla lobes, fragrant. The fruit is a paired capsule, opening upon maturation to reveal pulp with numerous small seeds.

Voacanga thouarsii is a small tree up to 10-15 m (33-50 ft) tall in nature and noticeably shorter in cultivation. Homeland - Eastern and Southern Africa and Madagascar, where the plant occurs in coastal forests and on swampy shores.

The leaves are large, up to 25 cm (10 in) long, glossy, dark green, gathered at the ends of shoots. The flowers are creamy-white, fragrant, blooming in clusters and outwardly truly resembling frangipani, which gave the species its English common name.

Voacanga seeds are small, numerous, and lose viability rather quickly, so they should be sown as promptly as possible. Before sowing, they are soaked for 12-24 hours in a weak solution of potassium permanganate or in a growth stimulant solution: SUPERthrive, HB-101, Aminozol, Epin, or Zircon. Scarification and stratification are not required.

Sowing is carried out in a sterile soil mix to a depth of 8-10 mm (0.3-0.4 in). The sowing is moistened with a spray bottle, covered with a transparent lid or placed in a propagator, and germinated in warmth at a temperature of 25-30 °C (77-86 °F), preferably with bottom heat.

Germination is prolonged and uneven: seedlings may appear anywhere from several weeks to several months, so the container should not be discarded prematurely. Seed trays should be ventilated frequently, condensation wiped off, and waterlogging avoided. The seedlings are lightly shaded, and pricking out is performed after the second pair of true leaves expands.

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Young plants are kept in bright diffused light and slightly shaded; mature ones tolerate direct sun well.

Warm maintenance is required year-round, optimally 22-30 °C (72-86 °F). In winter, the temperature should not drop below 15 °C (59 °F). The plant is tropical and cannot tolerate cold.

Watering is regular; the substrate is kept moderately moist. Overwatering must be avoided: seedlings are particularly sensitive to excess moisture and are easily affected by fungal diseases.

The substrate should be nutritious, loose, and well-draining, based on leaf mold and peat with the addition of sand and perlite. A drainage layer must be placed at the bottom of the pot.

Feeding with complex fertilizer is applied once every two to three weeks from spring to late summer; it is not carried out in winter.

The root system needs space, so repotting into a larger container is carried out timely and regularly in spring.

Special notes: All parts of the plant contain milky sap, which is toxic and irritates skin and mucous membranes. Pruning is best done with gloves, and the plant should be kept out of reach of children and pets.