I had a longer post planned for today but it turns out that I need to do more research on the subject. I arrived home late last night from the Northwest Flower & Garden Festival so have not had a lot of extra time this week to write.

So, in the meantime, let’s talk a little bit about a Guest Gesneriad that I like enough to recommend as an unusual plant to try out. This one is known for its pretty flowers and the fact that it’s fairly easy to grow. I think that it has handled regular indoor conditions well, but it needs to be kept moist and placed in an east facing window.

I have to say that my Columnea schiedeana languished for months but it was likely due to its change of residence. Last year I took on the care of a lot of plants when a long-time Mt Hood Gesneriad Society member sold his home and greenhouse. This was one of his plants that came home with me, and for a long time I wasn’t even sure it had the correct ID since nothing changed—but then this happened.

My plan now is to keep it where it is, and in a few more months I will grow it outdoors once we warm up a bit more. This is one of those plants that fits perfectly into my patio plant category.

(Columnea schiedeana is originally from Mexico.)