Sinningia 'Crushed Velvet'

The Caudex Plant makes a fabulous house plant and is easy to grow. The bright green, lumpy, bumpy, fuzzy foliage remains a feature year round.

As the weather warms, bright orange-red tubular blooms grow through and can bloom from October to June, even longer in warmer zones. When the flowers finish the foliage remains and grows larger.

Grow the Caudex Plant, or Sinningia bullata with the handsome caudex style tuber above the soil. When in growth it reminds me of a tropical island with a palm tree in the centre. The tuber will grow up to 20cm across and last for decades. These Caudex Plants are around 2cm across and around two years old.

Plant into a good quality potting mix. Water in, then allow potting mix to almost dry out before watering again. Add a diluted, potash fertiliser every other week in growth. Grow in a pot indoors or out. Although in cold climates indoors is better through winter.

These plants will be sent without foliage as it doesn’t travel well. You can expect the new growth to come through quickly and it will be looking gorgeous in no time, (which it does in spring anyway), with flowers in 6-8 weeks.

The Caudex Plant is in the same family as African Violets and Gloxinia.