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Products > Oreopanax capitatus   Oreopanax capitatus - Picón   Working on getting this plant out in the field but it is not yet available – listing for information only!  [2nd Image] Habit and Cultural Information Category: Tree Family: Araliaceae (Ginsengs) Origin: Central America (North America) Evergreen: Yes Flower Color: White Bloomtime: Winter/Spring Synonyms: [Oreopanax nyphaefolius] Height: 12-20 feet Width: 10-15 feet Exposure: Sun or Shade Seaside: Yes Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs Winter Hardiness: 25-30° F Oreopanax capitatus (Picón) - Small tropical evergreen tree with dark bark to 15 to 30 feet tall with many short secondary branches holding in a dense crown large 8 to 10 inch long leathery oval glossy dark green leaves on long petioles and with prominent veins and a pointed tip. The small greenish white flowers appear in thick stalked clusters from winter into spring. Plant in full sun to light shade and water occasionally - once established it is surprisingly drought tolerant but probably not hardy much below 28° F. There are several trees in older gardens in Santa Barbara, both near the coast and in the foothills and has also been noted to be growing near the ocean in San Diego, and it appears to be thriving in all of these conditions. This is an handsome small tree in the garden and is attractive to bees. Its shiny green cut foliage is long lived (up to 30 days) and useful in large flower arrangements. Oreopanax capitatus is wide spread in lowland up areas and mountains up to 6,000 feet from southern Mexico to tropical South America and the West Indies. The name for the genus is from the Greek words 'oreo' meaning "mountain" with the genus name Panax (which means "all healing), signifying that this is a mountain panax. The specific epithet means in dense heads. The typical common name listed is Picón but it is also called Papayillo, Bejuco, Papelillo, Volador and in Belize is called "Three-foot Jack", reportedly as the branches are seldom more than 3 feet long.  The information on this page is based on the research that we have conducted about this plant in the San Marcos Growers library, from what we have found on reliable online sources, as well as from observations made of our crops of this plant growing in the nursery and of plants growing in the nursery's garden and those in other gardens where we may have observed it. We also have incorporated comments received from others and welcome getting feedback from those who may have additional information, particularly if this information includes cultural information that would aid others in growing Oreopanax capitatus.     [MORE INFO]