Achimenes 'Hilda Michelssen'

RHS Plant Profile

hot water plant 'Hilda Michelssen'

RHS

Conservatory Greenhouse Houseplants

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A bushy, trailing, rhizomatous perennial to 40cm with toothed, dark green leaves. Large, purple tubular-shaped flowers are produced from summer through to the autumn

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 1 year
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: West–facing or South–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: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy, Trailing
Genus: Achimenes are rhizomatous herbaceous perennials with scaly rhizomes producing trailing stems bearing simple, opposite or whorled leaves and salver-shaped showy flowers in the leaf axils in summer and autumn
Name Status: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow under glass in either peat-free, multi-purpose compost or peat-free John Innes No 2 loam-based compost in bright filtered light. To bring rhizomes into growth in spring, temperatures of 16-18°C (61-64°F) are ideal. Water sparingly until summer when plants should be watered freely. Apply a balanced liquid fertiliser at quarter strength at each watering

Propagation

Propagate by division of rhizomes in spring or stem tip cuttings in spring (see softwood cuttings)

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Patio and container plants
Sub-tropical
Hanging Basket

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, glasshouse red spider mite and thrips

Diseases

Generally disease-free