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Cal’s Plant of tBotany & Micro

Aeschynanthus speciosus – Lipstick Plant
Aeschynanthus speciosus originally comes from Southeast Asia where it grows as an epiphyte on the branches of trees in the rain forest. Being an epiphyte, it does not live as a parasite on the tree, but takes nourishment from fallen leaves and twigs that accumulate in the crevices of branches.
Culture: Aeschynanthus speciosus needs a porous compost (2 parts peat moss to 1 part loam to 1 part sharp sand or perlite), plenty of light, but no direct sunlight. Water the plant oftenduring the growing season and fertilize every other week during the growing season at ½ the recommended strength. Do not fertilize and water more sparingly during the rest period. Repot the plant in spring, every 2-3 years or when the compost compacts.

Propagation: Aeschynanthus speciosus are propagated in spring by cuttings 4-6” (10-15 cm) long, placed in sand with a bottom temperature of 72-75°F (22-24°C).

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he Week is brought to you by the Dept. of biology of the University of Oklahoma

©2004 http://www.plantoftheweek.org/

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Belamcanda chinensis - Blackberry Lily

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27 28 Cal’s Plant of the Week is brought to you by the Dept. of Botany & Microbiology of the University of Oklahoma


Belamcanda chinensis, or Blackberry Lily, derives its name from the clusters of shiny black seeds exposed when seed capsules split open. Even though it is called a lily it is actually in the Iris family. Fan-shaped leaves will reach 2 to 3 feet. They are hardy from zones 5 -10 in the U.S. Blackberry Lilies are native to China and Japan. Plants bloom in ate summer. Flowers are orange with a red dot and are 2 inches (5 cm) across.

Culture: Belamcanda chinensis need partial shade to full sun. We use a soil mix consisting of 2 parts peat moss to 2 parts loam to 1 part sand or perlite. Let the soil dry in between waterings. Fertilize monthly during the growing season. In the winter months, water sparingly.

Propagation: Belamcanda chinensis is propagated by division of rhizomes or by seed. Seeds need a 4 to 6 week cold period. Plants from seed will usually bloom in the first year.

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2005 Cal’s Plant of the Week is brought to you by the Dept. of Botany & Microbiology of the University of Oklahoma


Tillandsia cyanea (Bromeliaceae) is one of 374 species of the genus Tillandsia. Pink Quill is an epiphyte from Ecuador. Plants bloom in winter. Inflorescence is a flattened plume of deep pink or red bracts from which violet blue flowers emerge, 1 or 2 at a time, for long periods. Culture: Tillandsia cyanea do best in bright indirect sunlight. They need medium temperatures of 50 to 65°F (10-18°C) at night with daytime temperatures of 68°F (20°C) or higher. Pink Quills need a loose, fast draining soil (2 parts peat moss to 1 part loam to 1 part sharp sand or perlite). They can also be grown on slabs of bark or tree fern fiber. The potting mix should be kept moist at all times. Fertilize weekly with a balanced fertilizer diluted to ½ the strength recommended on the label. Propagation: Tillandsia cyanea are propagated by division or seed. Plants can be divided at anytime of the year. Seeds are germinated on peat moss with temperatures of 65°F (18°C). Seeds need light to germinate.

Tillandsia cyanea - Pink Quill

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Sarracenia purpurea - Sweet Pitcher Plant

Sarracenia purpurea, or Sweet Pitcher Plant, is an evergreen, perennial pitcher plant native to the Eastern United States. Hollow leaves are 6-12” (15-30 cm) tall arising from creeping rhizomes. The plantsare native to bogs and trap and digest insects to obtain nitrogen for growth. Theyare well suited for culture in terrariums. They live outside in USDA zone 3. Culture: Sarracenia purpurea need full sun to light shade with an acidic, moist to wet soil. We use a soil mix consisting of equal parts of fine sand & sphagnum. In a terrarium, you need to add at least 1” (2.5 cm) of horticultural charcoal before adding the soil mix and placed in trays with at least 1” (2.5 cm) of distilled water (only!) at all times. Propagation: Plants are propagated by division or by seed. Seed germinate in 30-90 days at 75-80°F (23-27°C).

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Aristolochia elegans - Calico Flower

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Cal’s Plant of the Week is brought to you by the Dept. of Botany & Microbiology of the University of Oklahoma


Aristolochia elegans or Calico Plant is an evergreen vine native to Brazil. Its unusual “trap” flowers are produced throughout the growing season. Flowers look almost like an old night cap or like pipes with elegantly curved stems. These trap insect pollinators and facilitate cross pollination. Culture: Aristolochia elegans prefer light and airy places, but never direct sunlight. Summer temperatures from 68-78°F (20-25°C) and winter temperature above 50°F (10°C) are best. Water plants regularly during the growth period, once or twice a week and no more than once a week during winter. Calico flowers grow best in rich, well-drained soil, fertilized every third watering and cut back in fall after blooming. Young plants should be repotted every other year, older plants every 3-5 years. Propagation: Aristolochia elegans is best propagated by cuttings, but it can be grown from seeds. Take cuttings in fall when flowering is nearly completed. Softwood cuttings should be 4-5” (10-12 cm) long. Treat with rooting hormones and place in a fast draining propagation mix with bottom heat.

http://www.plantoftheweek.org/

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Odontonema strictum - Firespike
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Odontonema strictum or Firespike is native to Central America. It is an attractive, compact shrub reaching 6 feet (~2 meters) in nature and half this size in containers. It has oblong leaves 6 inches (15 cm) long. When used as a shrub or patio plant it is a great hummingbird attractor. They are hardy in USDA zones 9-11. Plants bloom n the fall, producing abundant 1-inch tubular, bright red, waxy flowers on12-inch spikes. Very showy! Culture: Odontonema strictum do best if planted in partial shade with a rich, well-drained soil. We grow ours under 52% shade all year, with a soil mix consisting of 2 parts peat moss to 2 parts loam to 1 part sand or perlite. Plants should be kept moist during the growing season and fertilized on a weekly basis if grown in containers. In winter months, plants in the greenhouse are watered only enough to keep them from wilting. In the spring, plants should be cut back to encourage branching and production of new shoots. Propagation: Odontonema strictum are propagated by cuttings in spring.



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Crinum asiaticum are native to Tropical Asia.Crinums are impressive plants reaching 5 to 6 feet in height and 5 to 7 feet across. The bulbs may weigh up to 20 pounds. In the greenhouse they bloom all year long. The flowers are white and mildly fragrant. Twenty to fifty flowers are formed on top of thick succulent stems that rise above the foliage.
Culture: Crinum asiaticum do best in full sun to part shade. They should be grown in large containers using a compost consisting of 1 part peat moss to 2 parts loam to 1 part sand. Plants should be allowed to dry in between waterings. Too much water tends to cause rotting of the bulbs. Fertilize monthly with a balanced fertilizer. Repot as necessary to keep the plant growing vigorously.

Propagation::Crinum asiaticum are propagated by offset from the parent bulb and by seed. Seeds are often quite large reaching 3 inches (7.5 cm) across. Seed should be sown soon after ripening.

Crinum asiaticum – Poison Bulb

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Week is brought to you by the Dept. of iology of the University of Oklahoma


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2005 Cal’s Plant of the Week is brought to you by the Dept. of Botany & Microbiology of the University of Oklahoma


Euphorbia marginata, or Snow-On-The-Mountain, is an erect annual native from Minnesota to Colorado and Texas. The light green leaves are ovate to oblong, 1-3 inches (~2-8 cm) long, with conspicuous, broad variegated margins. Plants reach 2-4 feet (~1 m) in height with a single stem. The milky latex is corrosive to the skin, so care is required during handling to prevent severe burns or dermatitis. Plants form flowerlike inflorescences (cyathea) with showy bracts that look like petals. Snow-On-The-Mountain makes a long-lasting cut flower if the cut end is seared or dipped in boiling water.

Culture: Euphorbia marginata need full sun to partial shade. Plants should be well watered and allowed to dry before watering again. Since plants are native to poor soils, too much fertilizer or excessive water may inhibit flowering. Euphorbia marginata plants are grown from seed. Sow seeds where you want plants to grow.

Euphorbia marginata – Snow On The Mountain

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Echinopsis obrepanda or Violet Easter Lily Cactus, a native of Bolivia, is a small cactus reaching about 6 inches (15 cm) tall by 7 inches (17.5 cm) thick. It has 17-18 thick ribs with 1½ inch (4 cm) awl-shaped spines. They easy to grow and make a great cactus for beginners. In spring, the showy white to purplish flowers are 4 inches (10 cm) across to 8 inches (20 cm) long.
Culture: Echinopsis obrepanda need full sun to partial shade with a well-drained soil mix. We use a soil mix consisting of 2 parts sand to 1 part peat moss to 1 part loam. To this mix, small pea gravel is added to ensure good drainage. In the spring, when new growth has begun, the plants are watered on a regular basis, but are allowed to dry in between watering. They are fertilized only once during the growing season. In the fall and winter, they should be watered only enough to keep them from shriveling.

Propagation: Echinopsis obrepanda are propagated in spring by the removal of offsets orby seed. Seed should be sown in a sandy mix and germinate in 14 to 21 days at 68° to 70° F (20-21° C).

Echinopsis obrepanda - Violet Easter Lily Cactus

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he Week is brought to you by the Dept. of obiology of the University of Oklahoma



Leucaena leucocephala - White Popinac

Leucaena leucocephala is an aggressively growing small tree native to Central American that may grow up to 6 ft (2 m) or more per year. Plants are widely planted in the tropics for fodder and firewood, but due to its invasive nature, Leucaena is rapidly becoming a nuisance tree, outcompeting native species. Plants produce showy globose heads 1 inch (2.5 cm) across.

Leucaena leucocephala needs full sun and intermediate to warm temperatures. Pot size and selective pruning can be used to control their size. Soil should be mixed at a ratio of 2 parts loam to 1 part peat moss to 1 part sand. Soil should be kept moist at all times, fertilized once during the year using a balanced fertilizer and pruned in late winter.

Leucaena is easily propagated from seed after scarification or brief immersion in boiling water, letting seeds imbibe water for up to 24 hr. Germination occurs in 7-14 days at 70°F (21°C).

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30 31 Cal’s Plant of the Week is brought to you by the Dept. of Botany & Microbiology of the University of Oklahoma


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Paphiopedilum sp. - Lady's Slipper Orchid

Paphiopedilum species, known commonly by the name Lady’s Sllipper Orchid, is among the best known of the terrestrial orchid genera. Its natural habitat of this plant is limited to a region stretching from India through the Malayan peninsula, New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and the Philippines. These normally bloom in winter.

Paphiopedilum species require intermediate to warm conditions. Being terrestrial orchids they do not like direct sunshine but require semi-shade. Since they do not have storage organs, they must not be subjected to a resting period. They should be watered every 3-5 days. After flowering, watering should be restricted for a period of 4 weeks. During spring and summer months, sufficient humidity and sufficient air circulation is necessary. The compost should consist of Osmunda fiber, sphagnum moss and a small amount of bark with sand and leaf mold added.

Propagation: Paphiopedilum sp. is propagated by division in the spring.


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Schlumbergera bridgessii, or Christmas Cactus, is an epiphytic cactus with flat-jointed stems. The arching stems, reaching12 inches (30 cm) in height, make a great hanging basket subject. Flowers are borne at the tips of the arching stems in winter.
Plants need warm, moist conditions during spring and summer. We use a soil mixture consisting of 3 parts peat moss to 1 part loam to 1 part sand or perlite, For flowering, they require full sun, drier, cooler conditions and shorter days. Watering is reduced and plants kept cooler, with a minimum of 55°F (12°C) at night. Increase watering when floral buds appear and fertilize with houseplant fertilizer diluted to ½ strength. Resume normal watering after flowering.

Propagation: Plants are propagated by cuttings inserted in moist sand or vermiculite.

Schlumbergera bridgessii - Christmas Cactus

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Culture: Propagation: Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat January