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Conservatory GreenhouseShrubs

Columnea crassifolia

A bushy, upright, evergreen sub-shrub to 30cm, with shiny, lance-shaped leaves up to 10cm long, dark green above, yellow-green beneath. Produces hairy, tubular, vivid red flowers up to 10cm long in spring and summer

Synonyms

Columnea stenophylla

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or West–facing or South–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)

H1A

Botanical details

Family: Gesneriaceae
Native to the UK: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
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: Guatemala, Mexico

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow under glass in a 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 rooting tip cuttings with bottom heat in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Houseplants
Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to mealybugs, aphids and cyclamen mites

Diseases

May be susceptible to root and stem rots if overwatered

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