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Hypoestes aristata

ribbon bush

An evergreen, woody-based perennial to 1.2m, with velvety leaves. Whorls of pale purple, tubular flowers, sometimes spotted or lined with white, are carried on upright stems over a long period from summer to winter

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Ultimate height

1–1.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

5–10 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Loam

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

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)

H1B

Botanical details

Family: Acanthaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Hypoestes are tender evergreen perennials, subshrubs or shrubs, with simple leaves, often attractively coloured or patterned. Plants sometimes produce 2-lipped tubular flowers, but are more often grown for their foliage
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Tropical & S Africa

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow indoors in peat-free, loam-based potting compost in bright, filtered light, with moderate to high humidity. Water freely in growth and sparingly in winter. Apply a balanced liquid fertiliser every 2-3 weeks in summer. See Hypoestes for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by seed, softwood cuttings in late spring, or semi-ripe cuttings in summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Patio and container plants

Pruning

Pinch out the growing tips to promote a bushy habit

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews

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