polly red head

Plant of the Month - February, 2026
Polly Red Head

by Mary Loan

Polly red head's, Hamelia patens, is also known as ix canan (the Maya guardian of the forest), polly red top and scarlet bush. It is a plant familiar to many Belize residents for many generations. The plant is a fast growing woody medicinal shrub with small glossy red tinged leaves; its stems produce clusters of flowers which are a favorite with butterflies and hummingbirds. The flowers develop into small, edible fleshy berries that turn from green to yellow to red and finally black. The berries are not relished by humans; however they are a favorite of birds. The plants have grown for centuries just about anywhere in sunny locations all over Belize and Central America where the plants originated. Polly red head bushes grow to be about 10-12 feet in height. If the plant is chopped down, it often grows back.

In the event you cannot locate Polly red head plants growing around your home and garden, ask a friend or neighbor for a cutting or preferably a small plant or two from their yard to transplant to a sunny location in your yard. Water the plants a few times weekly for about one month and they should continue to grow and spread. Birds’ droppings are also another way plants are propagated.

The leaves, flowers and bark contain anti-inflamatory and anti-oxidant compounds. Messages From the Gods authors Michael Balick and Rosita Arvigo cover a large number of healing recipes to treat all types of skin ailments and infections, including insect bites. Here is one recipe with many uses: Boil a double handful of leaves, flowers and fruits in 1 gallon of water for ten minutes then cool and use to bathe skin ailments six times a day. For fever, headache, bad wounds, spider bites, skin sores, scabies, leishmaniasis and itchy skin, boil a large handful of leaves and flowers in one gallon of water; drink 1 cup daily and/or use as a tepid bath twice daily as needed. Polly red head tea is also commonly used to alleviate menstrual cramps or pain and as a remedy for non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The stems of the plant can be made to produce iodine.

I was curious about the taste of Polly red head tea so I brewed a quart of water with a full handful of leaves, stems and berries, then let it cool. I found it to be quite tasty with palatable medicinal undertones.

Polly red head tincture can be found at Body Belize Apothecary shops and outlets in many locations in Belize. Their headquarters is on mile 26 on the Hummingbird Highway: http://www.bodybelize.com. For more information contact bodybelize@gmail.com 501 615-1984. Ask for Christine.

You can make your own tincture as well by filling a clean glass jar with fresh chopped plant material (younger leaves and stems are best). Then fill jar with 80 + proof vodka, seal and label with date. Let sit in cool dark place for 6 weeks. Decant and strain out plant material. Best stored in dark glass bottles to maintain potency for years. Standard dose is about 20-40 drops in water or juice 1-3 times daily.

Polly red head plants are sometimes used for attractive landscaping and for fencing or floral displays.

Home - Grow Guide Index