Christmasbush

Chromolaena odorata

Family: Asteraceae Genus: Chromolaena Species: odorata

Synonyms: Eupatorium atriplicifolium, Eupatorium divergens, Osmia odorata, Eupatorium odoratum var. cubense, Eupatorium odoratum var. brachiatum, Eupatorium conyzoides var. incanum, Eupatorium conyzoides var. heterolepis, Eupatorium conyzoides var. glabrescens, Eupatorium conyzoides f. angustiflorum, Eupatorium clematitis, Eupatorium conyzoides var. floribundum, Eupatorium conyzoides var. extensum, Eupatorium barranquillense, Chrysocoma volubilis, Chromolaena clematitis, Osmia floribunda, Osmia divergens, Eupatorium sabeanum, Eupatorium floribundum, Eupatorium conyzoides var. tambillense, Eupatorium conyzoides f. glabratum, Eupatorium conyzoides var. scaberulum, Eupatorium conyzoides var. phyllocephalum, Eupatorium conyzoides var. pauciflorum, Chromolaena barranquillensis, Eupatorium conyzoides var. maximiliani, Eupatorium brachiatum, Eupatorium graciliflorum, Osmia conyzoides, Osmia clematitis, Chromolaena odorata f. squarrosa, Osmia atriplicifolia, Eupatorium klattii, Osmia graciliflora, Eupatorium odoratum f. scandens, Eupatorium odoratum var. pauciflorum, Eupatorium odoratum var. mallotophyllum

Christmasbush (en)

Gallery

Botanical Description

Chromolaena odorata, known as Christmasbush, Siam weed, or rompe saragüey, is a fast-growing perennial shrub of the Asteraceae family native to the Americas from southern Florida and Mexico through Central America and tropical South America. In open ground it forms a tangled bush two to three metres tall, but in shaded situations it can scramble to ten metres. The soft stems are woody at the base and clothed in glandular, hairy foliage. The opposite leaves are triangular to elliptical with serrated margins and three prominent veins from the base, four to ten centimetres long, and emit a pungent aromatic odour when crushed. Pale pink to white tubular flowers are clustered in dense terminal panicles, followed by hairy, wind-dispersed achenes produced in enormous numbers.

Native Region: Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil North, Brazil Northeast, Brazil South, Brazil Southeast, Brazil West-Central, Cayman Is., Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Florida, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Leeward Is., Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Suriname, Texas, Trinidad-Tobago, Turks-Caicos Is., Venezuela, Windward Is.

Cultural & Historical Context

Traditional American Uses

In Cuba and Puerto Rico the plant, called rompe saragüey, is burned as incense and used in baths for spiritual cleansing in Santería tradition (Wikipedia).

Chemistry & External Identifiers

Trefle ID

16609

Important Disclaimer

This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.

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