Lipstick plant (Aeschynanthus radicans)
The Lipstick plant, Aeschynanthus radicans, is an attractive, low-maintenance evergreen vine prized for its unique red, tubular flowers.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
The Lipstick plant, scientifically known as Aeschynanthus radicans, is an exceptional choice for adding exotic, trailing color to indoor gardens or warm, protected outdoor spaces. This evergreen vine is famed for its unique floral display, where bright red, tubular flowers emerge from dark calyxes, resembling lipstick being pushed out of a tube—hence its common name. As an epiphyte native to the damp forests of Malaysia, the Aeschynanthus radicans thrives when mimicking its natural habitat, making it a popular staple for hanging baskets.
With a trailing habit reaching up to three feet in spread, this plant offers aesthetic appeal year-round with its dark green, fleshy leaves. Its maintenance is generally low, provided its specific humidity and watering needs are met consistently. Gardeners seeking a flowering houseplant that offers visual interest even when not in bloom will appreciate the dense foliage and graceful cascade of this tropical vine.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Gesneriaceae
- Plant Type: Vine
- Native Range: Malaysia
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 10-11
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 0-0.25 ft
- Spread: 1-3 ft
- Bloom Time: Flowers freely
- Bloom Description: Red
- Sun Exposure: Part shade to full shade
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
When planting or repotting the Lipstick plant, mimic its epiphytic origins by utilizing a light, airy substrate. It is highly suggested to use African violet potting mix amended with crushed charcoal, or a standard mix enriched heavily with sphagnum moss to ensure excellent drainage while retaining necessary moisture. Aeschynanthus radicans requires consistently moist soil, so use tepid water and avoid letting the pot become soggy.
These plants flourish in warm, humid environments, ideally maintaining temperatures between 60° to 70°F, especially at night. They handle artificial light well, making them excellent houseplants provided they receive good, bright light without harsh direct sun, particularly during summer afternoons if situated outside. They are thirsty plants, so check soil moisture regularly, especially when grown in hanging baskets where they dry out quickly.
To encourage bud formation and a prolific bloom cycle, maintain the suggested warmth during the resting period. After flowering concludes, prune the longest stems back moderately—about 6 inches—to stimulate compact, new growth. If the plant appears sparse or straggly, you can cut back the longest stems as severely as 2 inches. Watch for lower leaf drop, which often signals drafts or inconsistent watering, and adjust care immediately.
Landscape Uses
Due to its epiphytic nature and trailing stems, the Aeschynanthus radicans is ideally suited for container culture where its form can be fully appreciated. It is primarily used in hanging pots or decorative baskets placed in greenhouses, sunrooms, or on shaded patios where protection from frost is guaranteed (as it is hardy only through Zones 10-11). For indoor use, placing the Lipstick plant high on a shelf or in a macrame hanger allows the slender stems to arch and cascade dramatically.
While less common in traditional outdoor landscapes outside of tropical zones, where applicable, it serves as a vibrant, low-growing groundcover, though its best application remains vertical interest. When growing multiple epiphytes together in a mixed basket, pair the Aeschynanthus radicans with other humidity-loving Gesneriads, such as certain species of Columnea or Episcia, ensuring all share the common need for well-draining, peaty soil and filtered light.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
The genus name Aeschynanthus references the visual appeal of its red flowers, while the specific epithet highlights its ability to develop rooting stems. The common name is perhaps the most defining feature, stemming from the way the bright red flowers emerge dramatically from the darker, tube-like calyx structures. This attractive vine offers consistent visual interest in hanging displays.
Tolerances
Potential Problems
The Lipstick plant generally exhibits few significant pest or disease issues under proper culture. The most common problems relate directly back to environmental mismatches. Improper watering, either too little or too much, can lead to foliage decline, with drafts exacerbating leaf drop, particularly on the lower stems. If new growth stalls, immediately check that temperatures are warm enough and that the plant is receiving adequate moisture and light. If conditions correct, resume careful watering and withhold fertilizer until new growth is evident.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Lipstick plant suitable for?
The Aeschynanthus radicans is hardy only in USDA Zones 10 through 11. It must be protected from any frost or cold drafts.
How large does Lipstick plant grow?
This vine typically spreads between 1 to 3 feet wide, though its height remains very short, usually maintaining less than 0.25 feet when mature.
What sun exposure does Lipstick plant need?
The Lipstick plant thrives in part shade to full shade conditions. Intense, direct sunlight should be avoided, especially during the warm summer months, as this can scorch its fleshy leaves.
When does Lipstick plant bloom?
This species is noted for blooming freely throughout the growing season, producing striking red flowers.
Conclusion
The Aeschynanthus radicans, or Lipstick plant, brings a unique architectural and colorful element to any collection, especially favored for its stunning, easy-to-spot red blooms emerging from dark casings. Its low maintenance level compared to its high visual appeal makes it a rewarding tropical addition. Before bringing one home, confirm your environment can reliably provide the necessary warmth and humidity, and plan to place it in a location where its graceful, trailing stems can cascade freely.
Companion Planting
Since the Aeschynanthus radicans requires consistent moisture, warmth, and bright, indirect light, companion planting should focus on other tropical epiphytes that share these cultural needs. Good candidates include various Hoya species, which also enjoy well-draining potting mixes but appreciate humidity. Another excellent pairing is the African Violet (Saintpaulia), given that ideal potting media for both often overlap, incorporating peat, perlite, and charcoal.
When designing a mixed tropical hanging basket, ensure the companions do not outcompete the Lipstick plant for light. Grouping plants that require similar watering schedules is crucial; using slow-release fertilizers suitable for tropical foliage can provide balanced feeding throughout their active growing period without risking salt buildup in the delicate root systems.
Seasonal Care Calendar
Winter care for the Lipstick plant focuses on slightly cooler, drier conditions to encourage future bud set for spring flowering. Reduce watering frequency slightly compared to the vigorous summer schedule, ensuring the potting mix approaches dryness before rewatering tepidly. Protect the plant rigorously from any temperature dipping below 60°F, as cold stress frequently leads to leaf drop.
As spring approaches, gradually increase warmth and moisture back to summer levels to promote heavy flowering. Pruning should ideally happen in early spring or late summer after a main bloom cycle concludes to revitalize older, straggly stems. Avoid fertilizing heavily if the plant is actively resting or looks stressed; wait until robust new growth signals that feeding will be beneficial for the Aeschynanthus radicans.
