Madre de cacao (Gliricidia sepium)
Care, watering, light and tips for Madre de cacao on Floravia.
Quick facts
- Family: Fabaceae
- Difficulty: Moderate care
- Watering: every 3 days
- Light: Full sun
- Temperature: 5–35 °C
- Toxicity: Toxic to pets
About Madre de cacao
Gliricidia sepium, commonly known as "Quickstick", is a fast-growing, medium-sized leguminous tree, valued for its showy pink or pale lilac flowers that appear before the leaves. Its elegant habit and abundant flowering make it ideal for tropical and subtropical gardens, as well as for live fences and shade. It is a nitrogen-fixing plant, making it an excellent green manure and soil improver.
Native range
Mexico and Central America
Care tips
It requires full sun for optimal flowering and vigorous growth. Although it tolerates drought periods once established, it prefers regular watering during its active growth phase and in dry climates. It thrives in well-drained soils, from sandy to clayey, and is quite adaptable to different substrate types. A common mistake is excessive and late pruning, as it flowers on old wood; it is best to prune after flowering to maintain its shape and encourage new blooms.
How to save a dying Madre de cacao
- Warning signs
- Yellow leaves falling, dry or brittle branches, lack of flowering or pods. 🌿
- First aid
- Check drainage and watering (avoid waterlogging). If dry, water deeply. Prune dead branches.
- What kills it
- Overwatering in heavy soils. Also, severe frosts or prolonged drought without irrigation.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes, if roots aren't rotted. It's very resilient, can resprout from the base. 🌱