Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Summer blooms
|
The tubular flowers of Pachystachys can add colour to your garden
|
ENLIVENS INTERIORS Pachystachys lutae
This is an evergreen perennial belonging to the family Acanthaceae, originally from the West Indies and South America. It is a low-growing shrub and has tubular flowers that protrude from decorative bracts. Pachystachys lutae, which is grown indoors, grows 18" high in small pots and taller in bigger pots.
The erect woody stems carry shiny, lance-shaped dark green leaves that are 6" long and arranged in opposite pairs with strongly marked veins having slightly undulated margins and a puckered surface. Each stem carries erect flower heads at its tip. Four to six inches long heart shaped flower heads consist of overlapping golden yellow bracts with green tips.
The 2" long two-lipped white flowers appear through the bracts and they are produced successively from the base of the flower spike upwards. Though each flower lasts only a few days, the plant flowers continuously throughout summer. The bracts retain their colour for about three months.
Pachystachys are grown in bright filtered light throughout the year; in loam based compost. Water moderately and apply liquid fertilizer on a monthly basis. Propagation is by soft wood cuttings.
CHITRA RADHAKRISHNAN
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
|
