Kohleria warszewiczii

Scientific Name

Kohleria warszewiczii (Regel) Hanst.

Synonym(s)

Kohleria digitaliflora, Gesneria regeliana, Isoloma digitaliflorum, Isoloma regelianum, Isoloma warszewiczii, Kohleria violacea, Sciadocalyx digitaliflora, Sciadocalyx warszewiczii

Scientific Classification

Family: Gesneriaceae
Subfamily: Cactoideae
Tribe: Cacteae
Genus: Kohleria

Flower

Color: Purple
Bloom Time: Summer to autumn

Description

Kohleria warszewiczii is a perennial plant with an upright to spreading habit. It grows up to 2 feet (60 cm) tall. Flowers are nodding, rich purple, and with furry trumpets. The flowering period extends from summer through fall.

How to Grow and Care

Put your Kohleria where it'll get plenty of light but out of the direct sun. Filtered light from a south- or west-facing window will give it the light it needs. Keep the soil evenly moist during the growing season, but don't overwater. Dry soil will cause the plant to go dormant. Soggy soil will quickly cause the rhizomes to rot.

You can expect dozens of blooms on plants in spring and summer. You'll get the most blooms by providing plenty of bright, indirect light. This one likes to be slightly pot-bound and blooms best this way. Repot in spring when it has outgrown its pot. Always use a container with drainage holes to prevent soggy soil.

Divide rhizomes in spring and pot separately. Or take 4-inch (10 cm) leaf tip cuttings with at least one pair of leaves attached and root in a moist potting mix. Cover the whole thing with plastic or a glass cloche to hold in moisture. Cuttings root easily in about 4 to 6 weeks.

See more at How to Grow and Care for Kohleria.

Origin

This species is native to Colombia.

Photo Gallery

Click on a photo to see a larger version.