About

Calceolaria 'Walter Shrimpton' is a compact, deciduous perennial featuring a rosette of soft, hairy leaves in a light green hue. Its distinctive, pouch-like flowers bloom from summer into autumn, displaying a yellow-brown coloration adorned with red or dark purple markings and a white stripe. This species is well-suited for cultivation as a houseplant or within an alpine house or trough.

About the genus

Calceolaria species may be classified as annuals, biennials, perennials, or shrubs. They typically feature either opposite leaves or basal rosettes. The flowers, which can appear alone or in clusters, resemble slippers and come in shades of yellow, red, or purple.

Growing conditions

Sunlight
Full sun, Partial shade
Soil type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH
Acid, Neutral
Soil moisture
Moist but well-drained
Aspect
East-facing, South-facing, West-facing
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness
H2

Plant details

Plant type
Alpine Rockery, Conservatory Greenhouse, Houseplants
Habit
Clump forming
Foliage
Deciduous
Height
0.1-0.5 metres
Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height
1-2 years
Suggested uses
City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Gravel garden, Houseplants, Patio and container plants, Rock garden

Care notes

Cultivation
Outdoors, grow in light, moderately fertile, acidic soil in sun or partial shade. Flowering is best in cool, moist conditions. Water freely and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser every 2 weeks. To overwinter plants, lift them before the first frosts and put them in pots in a frost-free greenhouse
Pruning
Deadhead to prolong flowering
Propagation
Propagate by seed sown under glass in early spring
Pest resistance
May be susceptible to slugs and snails
Disease resistance
May be susceptible to grey moulds