Columnea for sale in Cameron Highlands

There were 3 commercial varieties of Columnea found during our visit to the plant shops in Cameron Highlands, I believe all of them got ID but I'm not familiar with this genus. Personally I adore Columnea but many of them are native in the cloudy forest in Central/South America and a bit hard to tolerate the heat of subtropical summer.

Sinn. cardinalis

It takes about 10 months from seed to blooming plant. I received it as a medium size and several months later it gave flowers. It is an easy grower that requires the light as much as possible. A single flower lasted about a week.

Aeschynanthus myrmecophilus

This less known lipstick plant is found in Cameron Highlands, Malaysia where it grows as an epiphyte on high tree trunk. It can be found under full sunlight or shade, but usually found in medium-high light location. The succulent leaves are small and thick. The flower is small in comparison with commercial lipstick plants, around 1.5-2cm only. But the yellow flower tube touched with red on the lips is quite commercial tendency.

Aeschynanthus myrmecophilus is usually hard to approach due to it grows high, can't get a close up.

This photo was taken in front of our hotel, Aeschynanthus myrmecophilus grows together with the ant fern and orchids.

Kohleria "Designer's Star Balloons"

orange-red tube, no pollen

hot pink dots on white to pink petals
records of up to 4 flowers per leaf axil
nearly undetached corolla from calyx, long lasting

early blooms may get the reverse petal

usually flat petal in warmer condition
petal size is about ± 2.5cm across
peach-like shape leaf, grey with black vein
defined as a compact to small grower
upright, up to 10 inches height in 3" pot

Aeschynanthus Rasta

I met this unique lipstick plant in Cameron Highlands of Malaysia. It is a popular hanging plant there and the twist leaves suddenly caught my eyes.

Sinn. "Anne Crowley" x sellovii

A tall grower. 2 seedlings in bloom now, no obvious color difference between both. Looking forward to seeing other seedlings shortly.