Buttercup bush, Mexican holly
Turnera diffusa

Family: Passifloraceae

What it is like

A herb or small shrub which keeps growing from year to year. It grows 60 cm to 2 m tall. The leaves are sword shaped. They have blunt teeth along the edge. The flowers are spreading. They are 2.5-4 cm wide. The petals are broadly oval with a sharp point. They are yellow.

There are 120 Turnera species in tropical America. Also put in the family Turneraceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It suits areas with moderate moisture or which are seasonally dry. It needs an average, well-drained soil. It needs full or part sun. It suits hardiness zones 9-12.

Countries/locations it is found in

Bahamas, Belize, Brazil, Caribbean, Central America (country/location of origin), Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Leeward Is., Mexico (country/location of origin), Nicaragua, North America, Panama, Puerto Rico, USA, Virgin Islands, West Indies (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

The dried leaf has been eaten as a tonic. It is also drunk as a tea. The flowers are used for tea.

It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Leaves - tea, flowers - tea

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Chanana, Damiana, Hierba de, venado, Tamorreal, Venadita

Synonyms

Triacis microphylla (Desv. ex Ham.) Griseb.; Turnera aphrodisiaca Ward; Turnera humifusa Endl. ex Walp.; Turnera microphylla Desv. ex Ham.; Turnera pringlei Rose; and others