Consulta Plantas

Care of the shrub Marcetella moquiniana or Stick of Blood

The genus Marcetella, family Rosaceae, includes only 2 species of shrubs or small trees: Marcetella moquiniana (Canary Islands) and Marcetella maderensis (Madeira Island).

Common name: Stick of Blood. This species is native to the Canary Islands.

They are dioecious semi-deciduous shrubs or trees with an open crown that reach 4 meters (13.12 feet) in height. They have odd-pinnate and arcuate leaves, 20 cm (7.87") long, grouped at the end of the branches in rosettes, with 10-13 pairs of opposite or alternate leaflets, with a toothed margin and a sharp apex; They are bluish-green on the upper surface and pale on the underside; new leaves are red and young stems are reddish. The female inflorescences are reddish-purple spikes and the male ones are yellow hanging catkins. They bloom in summer and early fall.

Stick of Blood is used as isolated specimens, to form bushy groups or in pots for patios and terraces. It's ideal for Mediterranean coastal gardens.

Marcetella moquiniana prefers full sun exposure but can grow in semi-shade. It resists occasional frosts but can lose their leaves.

Stick of Blood can grow in poor, rocky soils; It prefers a normal, well-drained garden substrate with coarse siliceous sand.

This easy-to-grow plant needs regular watering while waiting for the substrate surface to dry.

Fertilize in late winter with compost or manure.

Prune lightly in late winter to keep it compact.

Marcetella moquiniana is a resistant plant to the usual pests and diseases.

Stick of Blood propagates from seeds sown in spring and by cuttings made in summer or spring.

Images of the shrub Marcetella moquiniana or Stick of Blood