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Rose Grape Wikimedia Commons
Melastomataceae

Rose Grape

Medinilla magnifica

Showy elegance, exotic luxury.

Family
Melastomataceae
Genus
Medinilla
Native to
Philippines
Bloom season
Spring, Summer
Type
Tropical epiphytic shrub
Height
60–120 cm
Sunlight
Bright indirect light
Soil
Rich, well-drained, humus-rich
Water
Moderate; high humidity
Hardiness
10–12
Lifespan
Long-lived perennial

Did you know

  • Medinilla magnifica produces enormous pendulous clusters of pink flowers hanging beneath broad pink bracts — like a chandelier carved from coral.
  • It's an epiphyte in the wild, growing on tree branches in Filipino rainforests rather than in soil.
  • Belgium adopted Medinilla magnifica as the flower on its 10,000-franc banknote, one of the few flowers to appear on currency.
  • Each flower cluster can carry 100+ small starry blooms and last for many weeks.
  • It's one of the most coveted houseplants in Europe, often called 'the Philippine orchid' even though it's not an orchid at all.

Color meanings

Pink

Rare beauty

Uses

  • Houseplants
  • Tropical conservatories
  • Specimen plants
  • Hanging baskets