Cinchona
( sing- KOH - nuh )
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At-A-Glance InformationThis genus is composed of tropical species of flowering shrubs and small trees native to the forests of western South America. They are commonly called Fever Trees due to their antimalarial properties. Foliage is evergreen and flowers are typically white, pink, or red and produced in terminal panicles. Seed capsules follow fruits. Use these tropicals as accents, shade trees, or specimens in the landscape. Take care when planting Cinchonas in the landscape, as plant parts (especially the bark) are toxic to humans and pets if consumed in high doses.
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Cinchona Species and Varietals
Cinchona is a genus in the plant family Rubiaceae, and includes around 38 distinct species. These tropical trees grow well in USDA hardiness zones 10-12 or Sunset zones 16, 17, 23, and 24, requiring high humidity to thrive. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.
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Cinchona calisaya (Fever Tree, Quinine, Peruvian Bark, Yellow Chinchona. Yellowbark, Ledgerbark) This species is native to the eastern Andes Mountains in Peru and Bolivia. This species contains high levels of Quinine and was historically grown in plantations. Individual plants reach up to between 16 and 50 feet tall when mature, producing shiny green leaves and pink flowers in panicles. Bark is thick and grayish. |
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Cinchona officinalis (Quinine Bark, Fever Tree, Jesuit's Bark, Peruvian Bark, Lojabark, Crown Bark,. China Bark, Red Cinchona, Quina) These evergreen shrubs and small trees are famous for producing Quinine, and reach up to between 20 and 65 feet tall when mature. Leaves are green and glossy. Bark is reddish-brown to greyish-brown with a rough, fissured texture. Flowers are small, fragrant, and pink to rose or creamy white. |
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Cinchona pubescens (Red Cinchona, Quina, Kina, Cascarilla, Quina-do-Amazones, Quiniera) This species is native to Central and South America, and is widely known as a medicinal plant. Individual plants vary in size from shrubs to trees that can reach up to 33 feet tall when mature. Leaves are thin and green, and flowers are shades of pink and fragrant. This species is considered invasive in the Galápagos Islands, Hawai'i, and Tahiti. |
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Caring for Cinchona
Take care when planting Cinchonas in the landscape, as plant parts (especially the bark) are toxic to humans and pets if consumed in high doses. These trees should be planted in a spot in the garden that receives between 6-8 hours of direct sun, though they can also be grown in partial shade, especially when they are young. They thrive in soils that are well-draining with a pH of between 4.5 and 6.5 (acidic), and can survive in a variety of soils as long as they are rich in organic matter. Mulch around the base of the tree or shrub after installation, ensuring that it stays a few inches away from the trunk. Adding mulch to the planting area increases soil moisture retention, suppresses weed growth, and maintains consistent soil temperatures. Water young trees regularly to establish a deep root system. Soil should be kept consistently moist, especially during the active growing and flowering seasons. At maturity, these trees require high, consistent moisture; they grow naturally in areas with high rainfall and mist. As a general rule of thumb, water whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
These trees typically thrive in warm tropical to subtropical climates, and do not tolerate frost. They prefer temperatures to stay above 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Young trees should be protected from frost using burlap or frost cloth. Prune trees only to remove dead, damaged or diseased plant parts. Otherwise, they are best left to their own devices. To create a single-trunked tree, train Cinchona when they are young, removing all but a central leader until the desired canopy height is reached. They grow at a rate of about 3-6 feet per year, reaching maturity and beginning to set seeds in 4 years. These trees can last for decades in the landscape if cared for properly, and are generally hardy and can recover from mechanical damage, even the removal of bark. They are harvested for their bark between 6 and 12 years of age.
These trees typically thrive in warm tropical to subtropical climates, and do not tolerate frost. They prefer temperatures to stay above 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Young trees should be protected from frost using burlap or frost cloth. Prune trees only to remove dead, damaged or diseased plant parts. Otherwise, they are best left to their own devices. To create a single-trunked tree, train Cinchona when they are young, removing all but a central leader until the desired canopy height is reached. They grow at a rate of about 3-6 feet per year, reaching maturity and beginning to set seeds in 4 years. These trees can last for decades in the landscape if cared for properly, and are generally hardy and can recover from mechanical damage, even the removal of bark. They are harvested for their bark between 6 and 12 years of age.
Propagation
Cinchona can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your Fever Tree, follow the instructions below:
Propagating Cinchona by Cutting
Propagating Cinchona by Seed
Propagating Cinchona by Cutting
- Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. A good substrate for propagation of cuttings is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
- In summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that the plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming softwood stem and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
- Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about six to eight weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth on your propagated shrub, you'll know you have roots.
- Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.
Propagating Cinchona by Seed
- Keep in mind that the Fever Tree plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
- Harvest your seeds. The seeds on Cinchona plants are pretty easy to spot, they're held in seed pods after flowers have faded. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. The pods will release the seeds over time, and they can also be manually opened to retrieve seeds.
- In springtime, water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well.
- Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Problems and Pests
Certain species of Cinchona are considered invasive in some areas of the world; see species descriptions above for more information. Check with local authorities before planting. Cinchona, or Fever Tree, is susceptible to developing issues with the following pests and diseases:
- Root Rot
- Linear Canker
- Scale Insects
- Aphids
- Thrips
- Butterfly Larvae
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