Stromanthe sp.

Stromanthe genus contains two species grown indoors. S. amabilis and S. sanguinea.

S. amabilis has compact leaves which are 15-25cm long and 5cm wide. S. sanguinea has larger glossy leaves which are up to 30 to 50cm long and around 10cm wide. Both have a creeping rhizome (a thicken stem which grows hoizontally below or on the soil surface) and produce fanlike sprays of leaves. Water moderately, mist often as needs humidity. Enjoys a medium light.

Stromanthe stromanthoides

Strongylodon macrobotrys

Flowers have a beautiful seagreen/turquoise color that is almost beyond description. This color is extremely rare in the plant world. The bloom is a pendant, clustered birds beak like inflorescence up to 4 1/2 ft. long and puts on a spectacular show when in bloom. Often used in Lei making. Can be grown indoors. The hue is probably the rarest in the world of flowers. A vigorous grower once established, it can reach 30-40 ft tall, but is perfect for a pergola where the blooming clusters can hang down. Specimen vine. Blooming season: winter-spring. Cannot stand hard freeze or drought. Grows best in Zones 9-11. Young leaves had very dark, almost black color. As the leaf matures, it turns deep green.

Strophanthus boivinii

Very unusual strophanthus with orange-brown flowers that look like carved out of wood with petals curled like a wooden shavings. This flower is very unique, looking almost artificial. Bright orange twisted petals with yellow margins indeed look like fancy wood shavings. Very rare plant in cultivation, and hard to propagate. Spectacular eye stopper, it is in bloom 2-3 times a year! Drought tolerant, takes both full sun or shade. Compact shrub in container, can be trained into a small tree. Leaves are leathery and dark green with white veins, and light green when young.

Strophanthus caudatus, Echites caudatus, Strophanthus dichotomus

Long red tendrils twisting off each flower petal are the defining feature of this tropical Asian climber. The white star-shaped flowers have red striping that leads into the exotic tendrils. This summer bloomer produces clusters of flowers that arrive on and off over several weeks, and as new growth continues, the blooming cycle is repeated. Its stiff rambling stems need support yet with some staking and some encouragement it makes a beautiful specimen.

Strophanthus gratus

An accessory to your garden. This climbing vine has umbels of soft pink flowers with a burgundy throat. The leaves are shiny and smooth and the blossoms smell like roses. Keep moist, prefers a fertile, humus-rich soil, needs good drainage

Propagation: Softwood cuttings or seeds.

Strophanthus preussii

A curious flower! Wild and unusual floral display arrives from late spring to fall on this shrubby vine. Clusters of cream-colored flowers bedecked with long, curly streamers and a rust-tinted throat. Occurring off-and-on throughout the year, flowering is heaviest in spring and summer. The faintly fragrant flowers are short trumpets with five curled petals that are very light pink (aging to creamy light yellow) with a reddish brown base. The tips of the petals become narrowed and elongated, forming a twisting, sticky string that dangles down from the flower and touches lower leaves. During winter might drop leaves.

Climbing shrub, to 12 feet or more; leaves elliptic to obovate or ovate, to 5 inches long, bluntly short-acuminate, truncate to cuneate, glabrous; flowers fragrant, sepals foliaceous, corolla white but darkening to dull lemon-yellow, strongly marked with yellow and purple in throat, tube about 5/8 inches long, basal cylindrical part purplish, as long as campanulate part, lobes very long-caudate, to 12 inches long, tails maroon, appendages in sunuses very short, obtuse, golden with purplish tips; follicles lanceolate, to 10 inches long. Cultivation: Frost-tender plants prefer a partly shaded position and fertile, humus-rich but well drained soil. Propagate from softwood cuttings or seeds.

Strophanthus sp.

A group of tropical plants belonging to the dogbane family, native to Africa and Asia. Seeds of the handsome climber Strophanthus gratus and Strophanthus kombe yield a poison, strophantin, which is used on arrowheads in hunting, and in medicine as a heart stimulant.

These frost-tender plants prefer a protected, part-shaded position and fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil.

Exotic species of Strophanthus:

Strophanthus bovinii

Strophanthus caudatus

Strophanthus gratus

Strophanthus hispidus

Strophanthus kombe

Strophanthus petersianus - Sand Forest Poison Rope, scrambling shrub, creamy white flowers, pinkish red on outside, dangling petal lobes.

Strophanthus preussii

Strophanthus speciosus

Strophanthus wallichii

Strophanthus speciosus

Rare rambling or vining evergreen shrub with clusters of unusual starfish-shaped flowers, sweetly scented.

Strophanthus wallichii

Strophanthus wallichii, a latex bearing woody climber, 10-15m. long, with brownish-purple flowers borne at twig-ends in February-March.