Lipstick Plant is a tropical, evergreen, epiphytic herbaceous perennial native to Thailand, the Malaysian peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo. It is a member of the gloxinia family (Gesneriaceae). Its genus name is compounded from two Greek words, aischyne , meaning “shame,” and anthos , meaning flower, referring perhaps to the blushing red flowers. The species epithet is a Latin word meaning “rooting.” The lipstick plant needs bright indirect light (but not full sun). It likes warmth but does best when the soil temperatures will stay between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the growing season. During the winter, it can be kept a bit cooler and drier. If the temperature falls below 50 degrees, leaf drop will occur. The lipstick plant enjoys high humidity but with air circulation; stagnant moist air will encourage fungal disease. Water them often but be sure the potting soil has good drainage. Using a dilute liquid fertilizer, such as one made for orchids, during the growing season will encourage leaf growth and blooming. The lipstick plant is a popular and striking houseplant with its bright red tubular flowers and waxy, green leaves, often edged with red. This is an easy plant to propagate and share with friends by taking a three-node soft stem cutting. Remove all but the uppermost 2 to 4 leaves and dip the cut end in rooting hormone. Pot up the cutting in a mixture of equal parts vermiculite and perlite and keep moist. Roots should appear in two weeks. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Insects affecting lipstick plant include aphids, mealybugs, and mites. Botrytis blight and leaf spot are diseases that can occur. Fungal problems can be avoided by keeping leaves dry and out of contact with potting medium.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Wet
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
6 - Vine (vertical)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Cascading
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Lanceolate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Leathery; Smooth
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The leaves are smooth, often thick and leathery, storing water in case of drought.
Flower color
Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower form
Umbel
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
This plant flowers freely with terminal flower clusters. Buds appear first and resemble tubes of lipstick, hence the common name. Tubular scarlet red flowers follow, with yellow throats and 5-lobed petals that are shorter on top than bottom and have leaf like bracts at the base The fragrance of the flower is malodorus (unpleasant)
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
1-3 inches long
Fruit detail
1.5" long capsule.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Smooth, hairless stems.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Peninsula Thailand to W. & Central Malesia
Wildlife value
In its native habitat, nectar from the tubular red flowers attracts hummingbirds.