Columnea gloriosa

It is an evergreen epiphyte plant with trailing stems and hairy leaves. The flower is huge and shiny.

Niphaea oblonga

I just realized the last time I posted Niphaea oblonga was in 2013, it was a long time ago and the world has changed a lot since then.

Columnea NOID

I was told it is Columnea schiedeana but I have no idea about the ID.

Codonanthe gracilis

The most easy Codonanthe to grow in Taiwan ... no matter summer or winter, it just grows.

hot to warm growing Columnea

The genus Columnea can be found in high cloud forest or lower mountain forests, they require different condition when we grow them as house plant. I failed to grow them when I was a beginner since I don't know them well. It was frustrated to see Columnea plant dried out in hot summer especially they thrived just a few months ago in winter.

Finally I understand I should pick out the hot growing Columnea varieties which adapt the hot summer in Taiwan. Before planting any plant, it's essential to understand its needs and requirements to ensure its health and successful growth.

xGloxistema "Dale's Dainty Dancers"

Gloxinia erinoides ‘Chapada dos Guimaraes’ x Diastema comiferum ... an intergeneric cross made by Dale Martens. Tiny little flowers are adorable.

Achimenes grandiflora 'Robert Dressler'

Day 1

Day 2

Early Spring

Just a few flowers in this early spring ... it's cold tonight.

Long time no see ... Eucodonia

Fuzzy plant with lovely flowers ... the color is cool in the tender autumn. I do like these rhizomatous gesneriads.

Columnea schiedeana

Native in southern Mexico , Columnea schiedeana is a unique plant in comparison with other Columnea species. The flowers are patterned with leopard markings. It is tolerance to high temperature in summer, therefore it is easy to grow this species in Taiwan.

Seemannia sylvatica - the yellow form

The orange form of Seemannia sylvatica is a common house plant that we can easily get from the local flower market. But there was a yellow form distributed in the market since a few years ago. I almost forget it until it blooms again.

Titanotrichum oldhamii 俄氏草

There are many native gesneriads we can find in Taiwan and Titanotrichum oldhamii is considered as the most shining flower among the local gesneriads.

Pearcea hypocyrtiflora

Pearcea hypocyrtiflora lives in the forests of Ecuador. The plant can be reproduced from a rhizome or cutting. It has the attractive leaves with pink and white veins.  The fuzzy bubble flower is topped with a few small petals which is open to allow the pollinator, a hummingbird, access into the bubble. Interesting !!!

Brilliant flowers

Columnea gloriosa will be the icon plant when it blooms. Very showy and brilliant , it will bring you warm sunshine in the winter.

Petrocosmea flaccida

As long as the growing condition fits the plant, they can do well anywhere in the world. Blooming Petrocosmea flaccida in Singapore.

Some rare members in Gesneriads family

As Gesneriaceae is a big family , there are new members from time to time ... let me use this photo to show the variety of the Gesneriaceae in the new year.

Photo Courtesy of JJ Wu , who owns Jung's hybrid series ... the variety name in the photo is listed as below :

龍勝金盞苣苔 Oreocharis lungshengensis

越南折筒苣苔 Michaelmoelleria vietnamensis
藍痕奇柱苣苔交種 Deinostigma Jung's Cloud Dance 榮的雲之舞
愛伯翰奇柱苣苔 Deinostigma eberhardtii
俄式草 Titanotrichum oldhamii

The end of 2020

I will agree that the world has changed a lot in this COVID-19 year. Many things that we think it's normal ... but we can't take them for granted anymore.

Wish you all a healthy and brand new year.

Alsobia punctata

Alsobia punctata is easy to grow and bloom , the short life of the flower is the only flaw. I have this plant for many years but the flower was rarely seen on the plant ... most of the time , it fell down.

Gloxinia perennis

Gloxinia perennis , also known as Canterbury Bells is a tall plant that is suitable for tropical garden display.

Deinostigma eberhardtii

Deinostigma is a latest genus in the family of Gesneriaceae. The common species is Deinostigma tamiana which was included in the genus of Primulina before. Deinostigma eberhardtii is another member of this genus. It's still not a popular plant and I also see it in the photo only. Very rare !!!