The Lipstick Plant (Aeschynanthus radicans), also known as a basket vine, is a beautiful and unique perennial that is often grown as a houseplant. It has waxy, dark green, pointy leaves and vibrant, red, tubular flowers. It gets its fun name from its dark maroon buds that, as they open, have bright red blooms extend out like lipstick coming out of a tube. It is definitely giving Taylor Swift Red era. These plants do best as hanging plants or cascading off a shelf and can reach lengths of 2 to care for houseplant.
Lipstick Plant Varieties
I only have one type of Lipstick Plant (seen in the photos) and it is the original type. This isn’t hard to find in stores but the varietals might be a little more tough to procure. Here are some of my favorites:
- Black Pagoda – Also called the Zebra Basket Vine, this varietal has purple mottled, dark green leaves with a purple tint on the underside. It’s blooms are green and yellow as opposed to red. This varietal is often confused for a Hoya.
- Curly – This varietal has wavy leaves that are very smooth and gently curve upwards.
- Tangerine – Not shockingly, the Tangerine has yellow-orange blooms.
- Mona Lisa – This cultivar has darker leaves and red-orange flowers which provide a nice contrast.
- Rasta – This is probably my favorite as I love interesting leaves. The Rasta has densely twisted leaves, similar to a Hoya Hindu Rope, but the same bright red blooms. It is also called a Twisted or Twister Lipstick Plant.
- Variegata – The green leaves of this cultivar are variegated with yellow, white, or cream.
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