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annatto

Bixa orellana L.

Family: Bixaceae · Genus: Bixa

achiote, lipstick tree

Secondary I Medium No biomass production
CC BY-SA · Wikimedia Commons

Tropical American native dye-producing shrub. Pasini lists it in the medium stratum of Tabela 3 and in the 3–10 year phase of Tabela 4. Seeds yield a natural orange dye (bixin).

📚 Synonyms

Scientific synonyms: Orellana orellana (L.) Kuntze, Bixa americana Poir., Bixa odorata Ruiz & Pav. ex G.Don

Other common names: annatto tree, lipstick plant

Götsch succession

Götsch stage
Secondary I
Ecological role
Early secondary
Primary stratum
Medium
Strata
Medium, Low
Biomass class
No biomass production

Environment

Light requirement
Full sun
Water requirement
Moderate
Drought tolerance
Moderate
Waterlogging tolerance
Low
Soil pH range
5.5–7.5
Preferred soil texture
Loamy, Sandy
Hardiness zones
10–12

Morphology

Mature height
2–6 m
Recommended spacing
3–7 m
Root system
Taproot
Root depth
Deep
Growth rate
Fast
Lifespan
20–50 years
Time to first harvest
24 months
Productive lifespan
30 years

Biomes & climate

Köppen classes

Where it fits in a guild

Annatto takes the Medium stratum in the Secondary I phase of succession — in a guild it shares the line with species from the other strata, each harvesting light at its own height, in its own time.

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Emergent High Medium · ≈6 m Low Ground cover

🪴 Cultivation

Prefers deep, fertile, well-drained soils, neutral to slightly alkaline; adapts to limestone areas. Optimal rainfall 1,250–2,000 mm well-distributed, with a marked dry season for seed ripening; tolerates up to ~4 months of drought. Performs best below 800 m altitude. Commercial spacings of 6×3 m or 7×3 m (Embrapa); cultivars Embrapa-36 and Embrapa-37 available.

✂️ Management & Pruning

Formative pruning to shape the canopy and sanitation pruning to remove old branches favour fruiting and harvest; the species tolerates pruning well. Avoid damaging the taproot system during weeding.

📅 Phenology

Flowering months: January, February, March

Fruiting months: April, May, June, July

❓ Frequently asked questions

How long until the first harvest of annatto?

The first harvest of annatto comes around 24 months after planting.

What spacing is recommended for annatto?

The recommended spacing for annatto is 3–7 m.

How tall does annatto grow?

At maturity, annatto reaches 2–6 m tall.

When does annatto fruit?

Fruiting of annatto occurs in April, May, June, July.

When does annatto flower?

Flowering of annatto occurs in January, February, March.

What stage and stratum does annatto occupy in a syntropic system?

In a syntropic system, annatto belongs to the secondary i stage, occupying the medium stratum.

Functions

Dye 🍎 Fruit Ornamental Medicinal

Propagation

Seed, Cutting, Air layering

Citations

  1. Pasini, F. & Guimarães, L. (2017) — Conceitos e princípios práticos da agrofloresta sucessional, Tabela 3 (Incaper) , p. 116 (primary_stratum)
  2. Pasini, F. & Guimarães, L. (2017) — Tabela 4 (arranjo agroflorestal por estrato e tempo) , p. 120 (gotsch_stage)
  3. PFAF Plant Database — Bixa orellana (ph_min, ph_max, hardiness_zone_min, hardiness_zone_max, light_need, growth_rate, propagation, soil_texture_preference)
  4. World Agroforestry (ICRAF) AgroforesTree Database — Bixa orellana (root_system, root_depth, propagation, time_to_first_harvest_months)
  5. Feedipedia — Annatto (Bixa orellana) (height_min_m, height_max_m, drought_tolerance, water_need, productive_lifespan_years, lifespan_years_max, cultivation_notes, time_to_first_harvest_months)
  6. Embrapa — Urucum (Bixa orellana): folheto técnico (Infoteca-e) (spacing_min_m, spacing_max_m, cultivation_notes)
  7. Flora e Funga do Brasil (JBRJ/Reflora) — Bixa orellana L. (family, genus, biomes, scientific_author)
  8. Plants of the World Online (POWO/Kew) — Bixa orellana L. (synonyms, family)
  9. Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder — Bixa orellana (pruning_notes, waterlogging_tolerance)

External references

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