Annatto / Achiote - Bixa orellana

Annatto or Achiote, sometimes also called Lipstick Tree is a large sprawling bush to small tree, highly utilized for its red saffron like spice and dye of its seed coating. A highly ornamental species, with exotic foliage, beautiful pink blooms resembling dogwood or strawberry flowers, and stunning seed pods, blazing red just in time for the holidays. This is also the dye used in the dairy industry to make yellow cheese. 

This species has been utilized for millenia by native populations as a dye and spice and is so ubiquitous in the cultures of south and central America, as well as the Caribbean, the natural range has never been determined. Besides the seed arils, the species has other traditional uses as well. To this day, the spice is a crucial element of many dishes of this region.

Root hardy to zone 9, this species can be trained into a standard tree or can be allowed to range wide as a shrub. Either way, this is such an ornamental species it can readily be added to front yard landscaping as an ornamental, and would have high utility even without it being a source of spice. As stated above, this is a frost sensitive species but in our 9b food forest winter frost damage has been severe every few years but bounces back quickly to flower and bloom the same year, never missing a cycle. 

Trees offered are seedlings, 8-10 inches tall and should flower and fruit in 2-3 years.