About
Callisia gentlei var. elegans is a trailing succulent perennial that typically grows up to 15 cm in height. Its leaves are dark olive green, elliptical in shape, measuring 6-8 cm long, and feature white stripes on the upper surface while displaying a deep purple hue on the underside. The plant produces small, white flowers that appear in clusters at the ends of the stems.
About the genus
Callisia consists of evergreen perennials that can either trail or grow in a bushy form. They feature somewhat thickened stems and foliage, along with small flowers that have three petals, typically in white or pink hues.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Partial shade
- Soil type
- Loam
- Soil pH
- Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
- Aspect
- North-facing, East-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H1C
Plant details
- Plant type
- Houseplants, Conservatory Greenhouse
- Habit
- Trailing
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Spread
- 0.5-1 metres
- Time to full height
- 2-5 years
- Suggested uses
- Patio and container plants
- Native to
- Guatemala & Honduras
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow indoors in temperatures that fall no lower than 10°C (50°F) in winter. Can be grown in a hanging basket or in a greenhouse border in two parts peat-free John Innes No 2 and one part grit. Water freely in the growing season and apply a liquid fertiliser monthly
- Pruning
- No pruning required
- Propagation
- Propagate by root cuttings (root tip cuttings) 6-7cm (2-3in) long, in spring. To produce dense coverage, pot up several cuttings in an 8cm (3in) container
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free