It contains two or three species of closely related shrubs commonly known as sun opener or shrubby yellowcrest.

They are native to the Americas, from northern Argentina north to the southernmost United States (southern Texas).

[2] The alkaloid contents of specimens of all three species has been studied, and although similar, they have been found to be chemically distinct.

[citation needed] Heimia salicifolia, commonly known as Sinicuichi, is a shrub growing to 3 m tall.

B. Calderón in 1896 who wrote that it was said to possess a "curious and unique physiological action ... people drinking either a decoction or the juice of the plant have a pleasant drunkenness ... all objects appear yellow and the sounds of bells, human voices or any other reach their ears as if coming from a long distance.

Although only growing as a shrub in subtropical climates, it can also be grown as a herbaceous perennial in colder areas where the above-ground growth is killed by winter cold.