Does it need full sun?

Yes, it prefers bright, indirect light or full sun to bloom well.

Can I grow it indoors?

It makes a wonderful indoor plant if placed in a very sunny window.

Plant guide

Fukien Tea.

Carmona retusa

Pronounced eh-REE-tee-uh my-kroh-FIL-luh

Also known as Carmona retusa, scorpionbush

The Fukien tea is a charming shrub often styled as a bonsai for its tiny, glossy leaves and delicate white flowers. It thrives in warm, humid environments and adds a touch of elegance to any indoor collection. With consistent care, it rewards you with small, bright red berries.

At a glance

Care level: Moderate
Plant type: Evergreen shrub
Light: Bright indirect light is best, though it can handle some morning sun.
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 2 to 5 days
Mature size: Up to 120 cm tall in containers.
Growth rate: Medium
Hardiness: USDA 10 to 12
Bloom time: Intermittent throughout the year

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist but never soggy to prevent root issues. Watch for yellowing leaves, which often signal overwatering or a sudden change in environment. Provide plenty of bright, indirect light to encourage steady growth and flowering.

Watering: Water when the top centimeter of soil feels slightly dry to the touch.
Feeding: Use a balanced liquid fertilizer during the active growing season.
Pruning: Trim back new growth to maintain your desired shape and encourage density.
Repotting: Repot in early spring when the roots have filled the container.
Soil: Well-draining, slightly acidic potting mix.
Soil pH: 5.5 to 6.5
Temperature: 10 to 35°C
Humidity: 50 to 80%
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Lifespan: Perennial, can live for many decades with proper care.
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
Water sitting on the surface of the soil.
The plant stops growing during the active season.

Safety

People: There are no significant reports of toxicity to humans.
Pets: This plant is generally considered non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Children: The small berries could pose a choking hazard if ingested by small children.
Contact allergens: The leaves have a slightly rough, sandpaper texture that may irritate sensitive skin.
Airborne allergens: There is no notable risk of respiratory allergies.
Edibility: The berries are generally considered non toxic but are not commonly consumed by humans.

How to identify it

Small, shiny, dark green leaves
Tiny, star shaped white flowers
Small, round, bright red berries
Rough, textured, greyish brown bark

Height: 0.6 to 3m
Spread: 0.6 to 2m
Leaves: dark green, evergreen
Flowers: white, 0.5 to 1cm
Fruit: red, orange, Year round

Problems to watch for

Root RotCommon
Scale InsectsCommon
Brown Leaf EdgesUncommon
Leaf DropUncommon
Sooty MoldUncommon
Spider MitesUncommon

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: cuttings, seed
When to plant: spring, summer
Overwintering: Move indoors before temperatures drop below 10 degrees Celsius. Keep it in a bright spot away from cold drafts and reduce watering slightly.
In containers: It is excellent for containers and is one of the most popular species for bonsai, requiring a pot with good drainage.

Stem cuttings

Take a 10 cm cutting from a healthy branch.
Remove the lower leaves.
Dip the end in rooting hormone.
Plant in moist, well draining soil.
Cover with a plastic bag to maintain humidity.

Group with other tropical plants to help maintain a localized humid microclimate.

Grows well with

Ficus · They share similar light and humidity requirements in a tropical collection.
Chinese Elm · Both are popular bonsai subjects that thrive in similar environmental conditions.

Similar species

Carmona · This is often considered a synonym or a very closely related species.

Science

Family: Ehretiaceae
Genus: Ehretia
Order: Boraginales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Southern China, Taiwan, and parts of Southeast Asia.
Conservation: It is widely cultivated and not currently under conservation threat.

It grows in tropical thickets where it relies on birds to disperse its seeds.

Value to wildlife: nectar source, provides cover for small birds
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: bonsai specimen, ornamental shrub, hedging

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Temperature: 8/9
Light: 7/9
Moisture: 6/9
Nutrients: 5/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Does it need full sun?: Yes, it prefers bright, indirect light or full sun to bloom well.
Can I grow it indoors?: It makes a wonderful indoor plant if placed in a very sunny window.

Where the name comes from

The genus honors German botanist Georg Dionysius Ehret, while microphylla refers to its small leaves.

Good to know

It is often called the Fukien tea tree.
The leaves are naturally tiny, making it perfect for miniature gardening.
It thrives in tropical climates where it can grow into a dense bush.

Keep your fukien tea growing

This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.