Description
A large shrub or small tree native to tropical South America and widely cultivated elsewhere for its intensely red seeds that are popular as a spice and food colorant. It also makes an attractive and colorful ornamental with its bristly green or red seed pods.
Germination Guide
🌍 Mexico, Central and South America, particularly the Amazon region and Caribbean
Moderate
Bixa orellana, commonly known as annatto or achiote, is a tropical shrub or small tree native to the Americas, prized for its small reddish-orange seeds that yield the natural pigment bixin used in food, cosmetics, and textiles. The species has a water-impermeable seed coat that presents germination challenges, though freshly collected seeds germinate readily within 7-10 days under optimal warm, moist conditions. With appropriate pre-treatment such as scarification and imbibition, germination rates can reach 93%, making this an economically important dye-yielding multipurpose tree.
Germination
Germination time
Expect germination in
7 – 60 days
Temperature
Min 20°C
Ideal 25°C
Max 30°C
Substrate moisture
💧 Medium
Sowing depth
Lightly covered
Seed Pre-treatment
-
💧
Soaking — 24 hours
Soak seeds in warm water or gibberellic acid (GA3) solution for 24 hours to enhance germination. Seeds become fully imbibed after 24 hours.
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🔨
Mechanical scarification
Nick or lightly sand the seed coat to improve water absorption, especially important for dried stored seeds
-
📋
Additional notes
Mechanical scarification combined with 24-hour water imbibition enhances germination from 57% to 82%. Gibberellic acid (GA3) at 50 ppm further improves germination to 93% and reduces mean time to germination.
Substrate & Container
Recommended substrate
well-drained sandy loam, peat and perlite mixture, or seed starting mix
Recommended container
container with good drainage, polyethylene bag, planting trays
Growing Tips
Use fresh seeds from recently harvested ripe pods rather than dried seeds for best results. Scarify dried/stored seeds by nicking the radicle end before sowing. Soak seeds in warm water or gibberellic acid (GA3) solution for 24 hours to overcome dormancy. Maintain soil temperature between 25-30°C for optimal germination (14-21 days typical). Ensure constant moisture without waterlogging. Grow lights facilitate germination and early growth. Open containers every 2-3 days for air exchange and humidity check. Transfer germinated seedlings to individual pots after emergence. Acclimatize seedlings for 4-12 weeks in partial shade before final transplanting. Prepare planting holes 2-4 weeks before transplanting. Seedlings are ready for field planting after 3-4 months at 15-25 cm height.
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