Rivina humilis is a species of perennial herb in the family Phytolaccaceae (pokeweed family). The plant is native from southern United States to (Florida to Arizona, north to Oklahoma and Arkansas), Central America, and the Caribbean to tropical South America.  It has been widely introduced to the Old World. Introductions have largely been deliberate for ornament, pigment or medicinal use. But the plant has become invasive in many parts of the tropics. Named for Augustus Quirinus Rivinus, 18th century professor of botany at Leipzig University. The specific epithet ‘humulis’ means ‘lowly’ in Latin, referring to the plant’s short height. Common names of the plant include Pigeonberry, Rougeplant, and Bloodberry.

Pigeonberry is an evergreen, perennial, herbaceous plant up to 130 cm tall that grows beneath trees and shrubs. The leaves are ovate to oblong, thin up to 10 cm long. Racemes are slender, loose, to 20 cm long. Flowers are on racemes 4–15 cm long with a peduncle 1–5 cm in length. The individual flowers are about 5 mm across, white to pink, growing on the last 5-6 cm of the stems. The fruit is a glossy, bright red or orange berry 3–5 mm in diameter, often appearing on the lower part of the stem while the upper part is still blooming. It is unique in that plant covered with small white and pink flowers, orange and red berries, and red and green foliage at the same time. The berries are much loved by birds providing them with winter food, and it is also attractive to bees, and butterflies. It is a host plant for some caterpillars.

Rivina humilis; prefers light shade and moist but well drained soil. Without supplemental water in summer, it may go dormant. It does not need much sun and is tolerant of full shade. Plant is also tolerant of salt spray and saline soils. Pigeonberry grows naturally in protected woodland locations. Its weak wood can break easily if exposed to wind or physical disturbance. Propagation may be done by seed and cuttings. Although it is a tropic plant, reported that withstands -18 °C.

Use in Landscapes: Rivina humilis is cultivated as an ornamental in warm regions throughout the world and is valued as a shade tolerant groundcover. It is also grown as a houseplant  and in greenhouses. Of year round interest since it has both blooms and fruits nearly all year.

The entire plant is poisonous, especially the leaves and the roots. Although, birds are able to eat the berries without ill effect, the berries are somewhat poisonous to humans. Consumption of the fruit produces numbness of the mouth, within 2 hours with a feeling of warmth in the throat and stomach. This is followed by coughing, thirst, tiredness with yawning, and subsequent vomiting and diarrhoea.

Extracts from root, stem, leaf, inflorescence and fruit of Pigeonberry shows antimicrobial and antioxidant activities, also shows tremendous antibacterial potential against Pseudomonas aeruginos.

The red fruits have been used for cosmetics, hence the name Rouge Plant. The juice made from the berries was used as a dye and ink at old times.