Woodbury's Tassel Flower Plant Care

Woodbury's Tassel Flower (Machaonia woodburyana) belongs to the Rubiaceae family within the Machaonia genus. Woodbury's Tassel Flower is native to Saint John in the United States Virgin Islands and Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands in the Caribbean. Woodbury's Tassel Flower is also known as Machaonia.

Woodbury's Tassel Flower displays a compact, bushy shrub growth habit, reaching up to 2.5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 2.5 ft. Woodbury's Tassel Flower produces small, fragrant white flowers in clusters.

Leaf size: approximately 4 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Woodbury's Tassel Flower every 7–10 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established shrubs mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Woodbury's Tassel Flower thrives in bright indirect light. Avoid placing Woodbury's Tassel Flower in direct, harsh sunlight for extended periods, as this can scorch the foliage.

Machaonia woodburyana tolerates temperatures of 65–80°F. Woodbury's Tassel Flower prefers humidity levels of 50–70%. A pebble tray or humidifier helps maintain adequate moisture around the plant.

Rich, well-draining soil with added organic matter like compost or peat moss. Good drainage is essential for Woodbury's Tassel Flower to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Woodbury's Tassel Flower every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established shrubs in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with bright indirect light and rich, well-draining soil with added organic matter like compost or peat moss. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Woodbury's Tassel Flower is suited to USDA Zone 11b – 12b.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped shrubs in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Woodbury's Tassel Flower can spread to about 3 ft (0.8 m) and reach about 3 ft (1 m) tall. Space plants about 3 ft (0.8 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the plant spacing calculator.

Prune Woodbury's Tassel Flower while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the shrub in one year.

Woodbury's Tassel Flower is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 11). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

Woodbury's Tassel Flower can be propagated through softwood cuttings, air layering. Similar propagation techniques also apply to machaonia erythrocarpa plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Woodbury's Tassel Flower is susceptible to aphids, scale insects. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Woodbury's Tassel Flower grows outdoors in USDA Zone 11b – 12b. It survives winters down to planting zone 11b. Woodbury's Tassel Flower is native to Saint John in the United States Virgin Islands and Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands in the Caribbean. In cooler regions, grow Woodbury's Tassel Flower as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.