The Leea genus is a group of small shrubs distributed naturally throughout the Eastern hemisphere, particularly Southeast Asia. Many of these shrubs, like L. amabilis and L. rubra, make good houseplants if kept warm and moist. There are about seventy total species in the genus, some of which are extremely rare, and they are often considered their own family: Leeaceae. All Leea plants are shrubs, however, with compound leaves.


They form small flowers in umbrella-shaped clusters in bright colors: the most popular Leea houseplant, L. rubra, has red-pink flowers. These plants are often cultivated in greenhouses or conservatories, or simply in a sunny house. They are of particular interest due to their method of pollination: the seventy-odd species in the genus are pollinated by a wide variety of insects, including beetles, bees, and butterflies. Though fairly rare, Leea plants make good houseplants if kept in warm and humid conditions: particularly L. rubra and L. amabilis, which has bronze colored foliage.

Growing Conditions

• Light: These shrubs usually like lots of light, and any sunny area in your house can prove a good spot. Many also grow in dappled sunlight or partial shade.
• Water: They should be kept lightly moist and not allowed to dry out. Remember, these are tropical plants used to high levels of humidity. Make sure not to overwater, though: if their roots become overly soggy, their leaves will fall.
• Temperature: Leea plants are not frost tolerant and should never really fall below sixty degrees Fahrenheit, minimum. They can tolerate about as much heat as you’ll give them, as long as they receive enough moisture to keep them from drying out.

• Soil: Their soil should be moist and fairly nutrient-rich: most generic potting soil mixes should be fine, as they aren’t unduly picky about their soil requirements.
• Fertilizer: They can be fertilized fairly sparingly, and generally only need fertilizer if you see signs of poor growth like discoloration or leaf drop. If you do fertilize them, a complete fertilizer like 16-4-8 is recommended for best results.

Propagation

Leea propagate through tip or stem cuttings. Make sure to keep the stem cutting area humid and then sever a few inches of growth. Ideally, avoid areas with flower buds: you want the cuttings to produce roots, not flowers. Cuttings should be taken in the mornings when the plant is turgid. Then replant the cuttings into a well-drained medium that will help them root like a peat-based sand mixture; once they’ve begun to root, they can be transplanted into containers and used as houseplants.

Repotting

Only necessary in cases where the shrub has clearly begun to outgrow its container or exhaust its soil. If its root system has become too large for the container, the plant will begin to show signs of stress, or the roots may even protrude from the holes in the bottom of the containers. Remove the entire Leea plant at once, leaving the root system intact, and repot in a larger container. Then backfill it with potting soil, and you may want to consider mixing Styrofoam bits into its new soil to keep it from getting waterlogged. Avoid damaging the roots.

Varieties

Out of the dozens of species in the genus, only a few are actually commonly cultivated as houseplants. The L. rubra is the most popular variant, and watch out: it is commonly referred to by its old name, L. coccinea. Some domestic gardeners also cultivate the L. tinctoria, which has orange flowers: look in tropical nurseries for many Leea plants.

Grower’s Tips

The biggest thing to watch for with Leea plants is humidity. Without enough moisture, these shrubs will die: consider misting them to up their water level. Watch out for aphids or spider mites, which can be taken care of manually with a good insecticide. Take note, as well: the seeds and foliage of these plants are poisonous.