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Products > Pisonia umbellifera 'Variegata'   Pisonia umbellifera 'Variegata' - Map Plant     [2nd Image] Habit and Cultural Information Category: Shrub Family: Nyctaginaceae (Four O¹Clock) Origin: Polynesia (Pacific Ocean) Evergreen: Yes Variegated Foliage: Yes Flower Color: Yellow Bloomtime: Summer Synonyms: [Heimerliriodendron] Height: 8-12 feet Width: 8-12 feet Exposure: Cool Sun/Light Shade Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs Winter Hardiness: 30-32° F Pisonia umbellifera 'Variegata' (Map Plant) - A 12 foot tall shrub or small tree with beautiful variegation on the 9 to 16 inch long and up to 6 inch wide leaves. There is a mottling of light and dark green colors on the leaf with the creamy edges that when first emerging can be suffused with pink. Blooms, which appear in early summer, are open clusters of fragrant small green flowers tinged with pink. The sticky fruits that follow are responsible for several other common names, Bird Catcher Tree, Birdlime Tree and Umbrella Catchbirdtree as insects and small birds can get stuck to these fruit. Plant in part sun or shade with regular watering. Only hardy to around 30 F but can freeze down to hard wood and resprout as it did in our gardens after 26 ° F. A very attractive plant as a foundation shrub along a path on in a shaded patio where up close inspection of its interesting leaves can be made. It is native to many Polynesian islands, Southeast Asia, China, Japan and northern Australia. The genus is honors the Dutch physician and naturalist Willem Piso and the specific epithet is from the combination of the Latin words 'umbella' meaning "umbrella" and 'fero' meaning "to carry" in reference to the shape of the inflorescences. This plant is noted as being a 30 foot plus tree in habitat, however this plant rarely exceeds 6-12 feet in cultivation in southern California, though one of small tree proportions has been noted in a Santa Barbara garden.  This description is based on research and observations of this plant as it grows in our nursery, in our nursery garden and in other gardens that we visit. We also incorporate comments received and appreciate getting feedback of any kind from those who have any additional information about this plant, particularly if they disagree with what we have written or if they have additional cultural tips that would aid others in growing Pisonia umbellifera 'Variegata'.     [MORE INFO]