FNPS Plant Database

Rivina humilis

rouge plant
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Louise Raterman

Nomenclature

Common Name:

rouge plant

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Rivina humilis

Family:

Phytolaccaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

Shrub

Size:

3–5 ft tall by 1–3 ft wide

Life Span:

long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white, pink

Fruit Color:

red

Phenology:

Evergreen. Blooms and fruits all year.

Noted For:

Showy Flowers, Showy Fruits

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Foundation plantings, small specimen plants. Of year-round interest since it has both blooms and fruits nearly all year.

Considerations:

This plant grows naturally in protected woodland locations. Its weak wood can break easily if exposed to wind or physical disturbance.

Availability:

Native Nurseries, FNPS Plant Sales

Propagation:

Seeds and cuttings. Self-seeds.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun, Shade

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded---------------------------------Extremely Dry

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Usually moist, occasional inundation -to- Somewhat long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding

Tolerance:

Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Loam

Soil pH:

Suitable to Grow In:

9A,9B,10A,10B

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.

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Vouchered In:

Distribution
Vouchered
Not vouchered
Selected
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No county distribution is available for this plant yet.
Starting…
Map coded by Melissa Fernandez-de Cespedes (Paynes Prairie Chapter)

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Birds

Insect pollinated.

Seeds eaten by birds.

Native Habitats:

Woods. Moist and well-drained sand, loam, clay, or calcareous soils.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

The berries have been used for cosmetics, hence the name rouge plant.

General Comments:

This species is listed as invasive in Australia.
FNPS Plant Print

Citations:

Gann, G.D, C.J. Abbott, C.G. Stocking, K.N. Hines, and collaborators. (2001+). Rouge Plant [in] Natives For Your Neighborhood. ( https://www.regionalconservation.org/beta/nfyn/plantdetail.asp?tx=Rivihumi). Accessed 2026. The Institute for Regional Conservation. Delray Beach, FL.


Haehle, Robert G. and Joan Brookwell. (1999). Native Florida Plants. Gulf Publishing Company. Houston, TX.


Nixon, Leslie. (2019). Rouge Plant. ( http://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/volusiaco/2019/06/24/rouge-plant/). Accessed 2026. Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.


Wikipedia. (2013-2026). Rivina humilis. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rivina_humilis). Accessed 2026.


Wunderlin, R. P, B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. (1999+). Atlas of Florida Plants. ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/). [S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), USF Water Institute.] Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL.

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