Hello! I'm a

Clusia Rosea “Autograph Tree”

The Autograph Tree, also known as Clusia rosea “Princess”, is a small shrub to full-sized tree, the plant has large, slightly fleshy leaves that grow in pairs.

Latin name
Clusia rosea “Princess”

Pronunciation
(“kloo-ZEE-ah ro-ZEE-ah”)

Common name
Balsam Apple

Origin
The Caribbean islands, Central America and the northern most part of South America.

If you lightly etch words into the upper layer of the Clusia rosea leaf, the pattern will remain and grow with the plant – people sometimes sign their names (hence autograph tree) on the leaves or write messages that remain until the leaf dies and falls off. Mature trees have attractive pinkish-white flowers and can produce fruit, sometimes called balsam apples, but these are poisonous. However, they are unlikely to occur on indoor plants.

Did you know?

Clusia rosea gets its name from its thick, leathery leaves that can be written on by etching words or drawings into the surface.

Mildly toxic to pets and humans if ingested. Its sap contains latex compounds that can cause skin irritation, drooling and gastrointestinal discomfort.

caring for your plant

Light

Medium to high light.

Watering

The soil should be moist, but not wet and allowed to dry out a little between watering.

Pruning

The plant can be pruned to shape and to encourage branching for a more bushy appearance.

Feeding

Add dilute fertilizer to the water every time you water the plant.

pest & diseases

Clusia can be susceptible to Mealybugs and scale insects. Mealybugs should be removed when cleaning the plant with a damp cloth or paper towel. Scale insects can be removed by scraping them off with a blunt tool such as a wooden lolly stick.

Our plants are grown in Ecoponic, an alternative to soil. Officially known as a vulkaponic substrate, it replaces traditional compost with a clean, mineral-based medium that helps protect peatlands.

According to the IUCN UK Peatland Programme, “A loss of only 5% of UK peatland carbon would be equal to the UK’s annual greenhouse gas emissions.” As well as storing carbon, the natural wetlands where peat is found are critical to the survival of plants and wildlife. Ecoponic also improves plant health and uses water more efficiently.

Find out more about Ecoponic here.

Buy one of my cousins from the nursery

Did you know?

Research from the University of Exeter found that offices with plants can increase productivity by up to 15% while also improving concentration and job satisfaction.