Edible: Leaves, Vegetable
An upright bushy annual herb. Plants grow 30-60 cm high and spread to 30 cm across. Plants can lay over and root along the nodes. The leaves are oval and 15 cm long. They grow in pairs along the stem. They are covered with dense white hairs when young. The flower heads are oval and 3.5 cm long. They can be pink, red, purple or white flower bracts.
It grows throughout the tropics. They can be damaged by frost. They need a well drained soil and full sunlight. The soil needs to be moderately fertile. Seed need a temperature above 15-18°C. In Papua New Guinea is occurs from sea level to about 600 m altitude. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 7-11.
Common Names: Ablajtiin, Bachelor’s Buttons, Bachnhat, Didimangu, Idjoso, Idose, Lehua mau loa, Makhamali, Ma-nyo-lon-pan, Mseche, No-ngay, Oblocvetna gomfrena, Pahwis, Qian re hong, Staan vaste, Te motiti, Thousand Days red, Tocoroho