Tiebush
Wikstroemia indica

Family: Thymelaeaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 1.5 m high and spreads 0.9 m wide. The leaves are oval and 6 cm long. The flowers are white, cream or greenish and in heads at the ends of the branches. The fruit are red to dark purple and 7-8 mm across. POISONOUS.

There are about 70 Wikstroema species. It has anticancer properties.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in forests and on rocky slopes below 1,500 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 9-12. In XTBG Yunnan. In Sichuan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, China, Fiji, India, Indochina, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

CAUTION: Many Wikstroema are poisonous. The fruit are poisonous.

Edible parts

Caution, toxic, medicine

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Daphne indica L.; Wikstroemia shuttleworthiana Meisn.; Wikstroemia shuttleworthii Meisn.; Wikstroema viridiflora Meissn.;