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Mitre Flower Wikimedia Commons
Gesneriaceae

Mitre Flower

Mitraria coccinea

Fiery beauty in cool, misty places.

Family
Gesneriaceae
Genus
Mitraria
Native to
Chile, Argentina
Bloom season
Summer, Fall
Type
evergreen climbing shrub
Height
100–200 cm
Sunlight
part shade
Soil
moist, acidic, humus-rich
Water
moderate to high; keep moist
Hardiness
8–10
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • The name 'mitre flower' comes from the tubular blooms shaped like a bishop's mitre (a pointed ceremonial hat).
  • It is the only species in its genus — a monotypic genus endemic to the temperate rainforests of southern Chile.
  • In its native Valdivian rainforests, it scrambles over moss-covered logs and tree trunks dripping with moisture.
  • Hummingbirds (green-backed firecrowns) are its primary pollinators in the wild.
  • It thrives in mild, maritime climates and is popular in gardens of western Scotland, Ireland, and Cornwall.

Color meanings

Scarlet

burning passion in the shade

Orange-Red

southern forest fire

Uses

  • shaded wall cover
  • woodland gardens
  • cool conservatories
  • collector's gardens