Columnea × banksii

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goldfish plant

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goldfish plant Dorling Kindersley 2003
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Conservatory Greenhouse Herbaceous Perennial

A trailing evergreen perennial with small, glossy, ovate leaves and long-tubed, two-lipped bright scarlet flowers 6cm in length all year

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

Up to 10 cm

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
5–10 years
Max Spread
0.5-1 metres
Max Height
Up to 10 cm

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Neutral

Position

Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H1C

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Gesneriaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Trailing
Genus
Columnea are evergreen shrubs and sub-shrubs with trailing stems bearing fleshy, simple leaves and solitary or clustered, tubular flowers in the leaf axils from spring to autumn
Name Status
Correct

How to Grow

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

Propagation

Propagate by root tip cuttings with bottom heat in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Sub-tropical
  • Underplanting of roses and shrubs

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

mealybugs, aphids and cyclamen mites may cause problems

Diseases

Overwatering may encourage root and stem rots