Whitehead (Enicostema verticillatum): A Mysterious Native of Puerto Rico
If you’re a gardener who loves discovering rare and unusual native plants, you might have stumbled across the intriguing name whitehead or its scientific moniker, Enicostema verticillatum. This perennial forb is a true Puerto Rican native that remains somewhat of an enigma in the gardening world.
What Makes Whitehead Special?
Whitehead belongs to a fascinating group of plants that have adapted specifically to Puerto Rico’s unique climate and ecosystem. As a perennial forb, this plant lacks the woody stems you’d find on shrubs or trees, instead producing soft, herbaceous growth that returns year after year from its root system.
The plant has an interesting botanical history, having been known by several scientific names over the years, including Gentiana verticillata L. and various Enicostema species. This name-shuffling often happens with rare or geographically isolated plants as botanists work to better understand their relationships and characteristics.
Where Does Whitehead Grow?
Enicostema verticillatum is endemic to Puerto Rico, meaning it naturally occurs nowhere else in the world. This makes it a true treasure for native plant enthusiasts and conservationists alike.
Should You Grow Whitehead in Your Garden?
Here’s where things get a bit tricky. While the idea of growing a rare Puerto Rican native might sound appealing, there are several important considerations:
- Limited availability: You’re unlikely to find this plant at your local nursery or even specialty native plant sales
- Unknown growing requirements: Without detailed cultivation information, successfully growing this plant would be largely guesswork
- Conservation concerns: If this species is rare in the wild, removing plants or seeds from natural populations could harm wild populations
- Climate requirements: As a Puerto Rican native, it likely requires very specific tropical or subtropical conditions
What We Know About Growing Conditions
Unfortunately, specific growing requirements for Enicostema verticillatum remain largely undocumented. As a forb native to Puerto Rico, we can make some educated guesses that it likely prefers:
- Warm, frost-free conditions year-round
- High humidity levels typical of tropical climates
- Well-draining soil (most forbs prefer this)
- Protection from strong winds
However, without more specific information about its natural habitat preferences, attempting cultivation would be experimental at best.
Alternative Native Options
If you’re drawn to the idea of growing unique native forbs, consider exploring well-documented native species from your own region. These plants will be much easier to source, grow successfully, and will provide known benefits to local wildlife and pollinators.
For gardeners in tropical or subtropical zones who are specifically interested in Puerto Rican natives, research other endemic species that have been successfully cultivated and are available through reputable native plant sources.
The Bottom Line
While Enicostema verticillatum represents the fascinating diversity of Puerto Rico’s native flora, it’s not a practical choice for most home gardeners. The combination of limited availability, unknown growing requirements, and potential conservation concerns makes this a plant better left to botanical researchers and conservation professionals.
If you’re passionate about rare native plants, consider supporting organizations that work to study and preserve species like whitehead in their natural habitats. Sometimes the best way to appreciate a rare plant is to help protect the ecosystems where it naturally thrives.
