About
Columnea x banksii is a trailing evergreen perennial characterized by its small, shiny, oval leaves. This plant produces elongated, two-lipped flowers in a vibrant scarlet hue, measuring approximately 6 cm in length, which bloom throughout the year.
About the genus
Columnea consists of evergreen shrubs and sub-shrubs characterized by their trailing stems, which support thick, simple leaves. From spring through autumn, you can find solitary or clustered tubular flowers emerging from the leaf axils.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Partial shade
- Soil type
- Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing, East-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H1C
Plant details
- Plant type
- Conservatory Greenhouse, Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit
- Trailing
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- Up to 10 cm
- Spread
- 0.5-1 metres
- Time to full height
- 5-10 years
- Suggested uses
- Sub-tropical
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow under glass in a peat-free, loam-free compost in bright filtered light with protection from strong sun. Mist regularly with soft, tepid water to maintain high humidity. In the growing season water freely but carefully with soft water and apply quarter-strength, high potash liquid fertiliser at each watering. Water sparingly in winter and avoid wetting the foliage
- Pruning
- No pruning required
- Propagation
- Propagate by root tip cuttings with bottom heat in spring
- Pest resistance
- mealybugs, aphids and cyclamen mites may cause problems
- Disease resistance
- Overwatering may encourage root and stem rots