Callisia navicularis

Synonyms

Tradescantia navicularis

Award of Garden Merit
Herbaceous Perennial Houseplants

A species of tender, evergreen perennial or annual with a trailing habit, forming mats of thick, ridged branching stems that root at the nodes, with broadly ovate, slightly fleshy, pointed green leaves with faintly toothed edges. Clusters of bright pink flowers with yellow stamens are produced in the leaf axils in late spring and early summer

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
5–10 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H1C

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Commelinaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Matforming, 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
E & NE Mexico

How to Grow

Cultivation

Can be grown outdoors where temperatures do not fall below 10°C in winter; more often grown in a hanging basket or container or as a houseplant. Grow in two parts peat-free John Innes No 2 and one part grit, in bright filtered light. Water freely in the growing season and apply a liquid fertiliser monthly

Propagation

Propagate by softwood cuttings, by root cuttings, removing 6-7cm of the root tip in spring, or by division, removing rooted offsets. To produce dense coverage, pot up several cuttings in an 8cm container

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Hanging Basket
  • Houseplants
  • Patio and container plants
  • Rock garden
  • Sub-tropical
  • Conservatory and greenhouse
  • Ground cover

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free