Columnea hirta

RHS Plant Profile
hairy columnea

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Houseplants

A trailing subshrub with hairy stems and densely hairy leaves to 4cm long. The 7cm long, tubular, orange-red flowers are produced in summer. A good houseplant for a hanging basket or top of a shelf, where it can trail down

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

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

Position

Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or West–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
Plant Range
C. Rica, Panama

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in pots or hanging baskets of open, humus-rich compost in bright filtered or indirect light. Mist regularly with tepid soft water to maintain high humidity. When in growth water freely but carefully with soft water and apply a quarter-strength, high potash liquid fertiliser at each watering. Water sparingly in winter. To maintain vigour, propagate every 2-3 years

Propagation

Propagate by softwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Hanging Basket
  • Houseplants
  • Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

See pruning group 11

Pests

May be susceptible to mealybugs, cyclamen mites and aphids

Diseases

May be susceptible to root and stem rots if overwatered