A tough evergreen houseplant with thick, leathery, paddle-shaped leaves that you can write on, which is how it earned the name autograph tree.
Clusia rosea makes a bushy, upright plant with dark green leaves so thick that a scratch or a name written on one stays as the leaf grows. It brings a lush tropical look to a room without asking much in return, and in a bright living room, office or conservatory it will slowly build into a substantial specimen.
Stand it in bright, filtered light with shade from hot sun. Water freely in summer once the top few centimetres of compost have dried, then keep the compost barely moist through winter. It likes warmth, so keep it above 15C and away from cold draughts, and mist the leaves occasionally in a centrally heated room. Feed once a month in spring and summer. It does not like to be repotted often, so leave it in its pot until the roots are clearly full.
Supplied as one established plant in a 17cm pot. The sticky sap can irritate skin when a leaf is cut, and the fruit is reported to be harmful if eaten, so keep it away from children and pets.
Cultural Information
Common Name: Autograph tree, signature tree
Fully Grown Height and Spread: Up to 1 to 3m x 0.5 to 1.5m indoors, depending on pot size
Growth Habit: Upright and bushy
Perfect For: Bright living rooms, offices, conservatories and bright bathrooms
Foliage: Thick, leathery, dark green oval leaves
Flowering Time: Rarely flowers indoors
Planting Position: Bright to medium indirect light indoors, shaded from hot sun
Soil Type: Free-draining houseplant compost
Hardiness: Tender, indoor only; keep above 15C
Maintenance: Low; water when the top of the compost is dry and repot rarely
Seasonal Interest: Evergreen foliage
Type: Evergreen houseplant
