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Achimenes 'Orange Delight'
| Family Name: | Gesneriaceae |
Achimenes ‘Orange Delight’ is a short rhizomatous herb growing up to 30 cm tall. The funnel-shaped flowers are bright orange-red while the center is tinged in yellow with dark maroon spots. Achimenes are related to the popular African Violets and Gloxinias. Coupled with its preference for filtered light and profuse flowering, this plant is often grown as a houseplant, or in a hanging basket.
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Herbaceous Plant |
Biogeography
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
|---|---|
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native (Horticultural / Cultivated Only) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a hairy rhizomatous herb that produces flowers in abundance (floriferous), measuring up to 30 cm in height. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Its leaves are olive green with pale red underside measuring up to 3 cm long. The leaves are covered in sparse hairs and have a toothed margin. |
| Flowers | Its flowers are funnel-shaped, bright orange red, while the mouth of the throat is tinged in bright yellow, with dark maroon spots. The throat can reach up to 4 cm in length. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Small Gardens, Interiorscape/ Indoor Plant, Container Planting, Suitable for Hanging Baskets |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Lots of Water, Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Fertile Loamy Soils, Easy to Grow |
| Fertilizing | Feed with dilute liquid fertilizer every fortnight. Alternatively, include slow release fertilizer pellets with the potting mix |
| Potential Problems | Do not allow the soil/ growing media to dry out completely as this can trigger the plant to die down/ go into dormancy. Should this happen, keep the soil moist to allow new plants to sprout from the rhizomes. However, that may take weeks or in rare cases, months. |
| Pest(s) | Sucking Insects |
| Propagation Method | Storage Organ |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Brown, Green, Red |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Hairy / Hirsute, Rough |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Opposite |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Red, Orange |
|---|---|
| Flower Texture(s) | Thin |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 31285 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 5681 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
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