Callisia gentlei var. elegans

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striped inch plant

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striped inch plant RHS

Synonyms

Callisia elegans

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A succulent evergreen perennial of trailing habit, to 15cm tall, with dark olive green, elliptic leaves 6-8cm long, striped with white above, and rich purple beneath. Flowers small, white, in terminal clusters

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

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

Growing Conditions

Loam
Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH
Neutral

Position

Partial shade
Aspect
North–facing or East–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
Commelinaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Trailing
Genus
Callisia are trailing or bushy evergreen perennials with slightly fleshy stems and leaves, and small, 3-petalled white or pink flowers
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
Guatemala & Honduras

How to Grow

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

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

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Patio and container plants
  • Ground cover

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free