Kohleria hirsuta

RHS Plant Profile
woolly kohleria

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woolly kohleria Dorling Kindersley 2003

Other common names

woolly-flowered tree gloxinia

Synonyms

Kohleria eriantha

Conservatory Greenhouse Herbaceous Perennial

A bushy rhizomatous perennial to 1m in height, with narrowly ovate leaves margined with red hairs, and clusters of tubular orange-red flowers 2.5cm in length, spotted with yellow on the lower lobe

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 Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or North–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
Genus
Kohleria are erect rhizomatous perennials with simple, toothed leaves sometimes with silvery markings, and solitary or clustered tubular or bell-shaped flowers with 5 spreading rounded lobes
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
Tropical America

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow outdoors in moist but well-drained soil in partial shade in a sheltered frost-free area. Grow under glass in peat-free compost in bright filtered light, with high humidity. Use soft water when watering. See houseplant cultivation for further details

Propagation

Propagate by division in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Sub-tropical

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids

Diseases

May be susceptible to rhizome rot