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Gesneriaceae
Lipstick Plant
Aeschynanthus radicans
Bold self-expression and hidden beauty revealed.
- Family
- Gesneriaceae
- Genus
- Aeschynanthus
- Native to
- Southeast Asia, Malaysia, Indonesia
- Bloom season
- Summer, Fall
- Type
- epiphytic perennial
- Height
- 30–60 cm (trailing)
- Sunlight
- bright indirect light
- Soil
- well-drained, humus-rich, epiphytic mix
- Water
- medium; allow to dry slightly between watering
- Hardiness
- 10–12
- Lifespan
- perennial; many years as houseplant
Did you know
- The common name comes from the flower buds emerging from dark tubular calyxes like lipstick from a case.
- In the wild it grows as an epiphyte, clinging to tree branches in humid tropical forests.
- The genus name 'Aeschynanthus' comes from Greek words meaning 'shame flower' — a nod to its blushing red color.
- It became a wildly popular houseplant in the 1970s and has remained a trailing-plant favorite ever since.
- The waxy, thick leaves store water, giving the plant some drought tolerance unusual for a tropical epiphyte.
Color meanings
Red
passionate self-expression
Scarlet
confidence and allure