1 entry found.
Common Name: Lipstick Plant, Lipstick Vine
Botanical Name: Aeschynanthus pulcher (ie-skee-NAN-thus PUL-ker)
Decorative Life: Many weeks to months. Under right environmental conditions, numerous flowers can be present nearly all the time.
Post Harvest Care
- A. hildebrandii was shown to be very tolerant to various shipping conditions.
- High postharvest light levels (>150 ft-c) are recommended for interior conditions. Cut back after flowering to encourage future growth and flowering.
Harvest Instructions: Biggest production problem is to get predictable and uniform flowering as the precise cultural requirements are still being developed.
- Member of the Gesneriaceae (gesneria family).
- Native of Java.
- Related species include gentian, exacum or Persian violet and African violet.
- Classed as a dicotyledon, leaves not parallel veined.
- Flowers tubular, in clusters at stem ends.
- Plant is often vine-like, leaves are fleshy. This species is classified as an epiphyte (living on other plants but not parasitic, like many orchids).
Flower Color: Red, yellow, purple.
Storage Specifics: Chill sensitive, store above 55F.
- The specific epithet name of "pulcher" means handsome, beautiful. From "aischyno", to be ashamed, and "anthos", flower, referring to the red flowers.
- The cluster of flowers appearing on the ends of stems resemble a group of lipsticks, hence the common name.
- This species is classified as an "epiphyte" or air plant. It grows on other plants and elevated supports as subshrubs or vines. It is not a parasite but obtains water and nutrients through a spongy covering of their roots.