aeschynanthus

Related to African violets and gloxinias, lipstick plants are members of the gesneriad family. Its easy to see the reason for their common name since the lobed red flowers emerging from a maroon sheath do resemble lipsticks in tubes. Natives of the West Indies, the plants grow as epiphytes in the wild, but theyre most comfortable in hanging baskets in the home. Blooms should come and go all year if the plant has suitable bright light and adequate water. The soil shouldnt dry out completely, but ...