It flowers from early spring to mid-summer. Reproduces by seed.
A species native to South Africa, but very common as an ornamental plant in parks and gardens in tropical and subtropical regions in many parts of the world.
In the Canary Islands it is cultivated as a garden plant, but it is increasingly common to find feral specimens in abandoned cultivated areas, rubbish dumps, roadsides, etc.
It is mainly used to form isolated clumps, or at the back of a flower bed, with lower plants in front. It is easy to grow, as it thrives in almost all types of soil, and only needs to be located in warm, sunny places.
However, its uncontrolled spread must be watched, as it can quite easily become an invasive species, as has happened in India, Singapore, the United States, Cuba and Australia.
In some places, a decoction of its flowers is used to treat fever, coughs, prolapsed uterus and malaria. And the infusion of its leaves, stems and flowers for tuberculosis, jaundice, muscle cramps, hypertension, diabetes, viral hepatitis, dysentery and diarrhoea.
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