The Victorians knew their plants, and the gorgeous hot water plant, achimene, was one of their favourites.
The Victorians knew their plants, and the gorgeous hot water plant, achimene, was one of their favourites. Who can resist the charms of this little beauty, a relative of the African violet and Cape primrose. I'm a great fan of the gesneriad family, all of which make ideal pot plants for the home, greenhouse or conservatory.
Victorian gardeners believed achimene must be watered with tepid rather than cold water, hence their common name of hot water plant. I'm not convinced this is actually essential, but it has got me into the habit of always filling my watering can after watering. Left in the greenhouse its contents will have warmed up before the next watering session, (possibly) sparing the plants the shock of cold water.
The lovely variety pictured is Achimene 'Ambroise Verschaffelt', which has an upright growth habit unlike other trailing varieties. You can tell it's a good variety because the Royal Horticultural Society has given it an AGM (Award of Garden Merit).
Achimenes grow from funny-looking rhizomes that can be planted up in February or March in a heated propagator, planting several in one pot to create a bushier display. Later in the year you may find young plants for sale, possibly flowering ones.
When I edited a magazine called 'Greenhouse' back in the early 80s I remember visiting a specialist achimene grower near St Albans (I think he was called Mr Townsend). He has long since ceased trading, and the leading nursery now offering this and other gesneriads is Dibleys in Llanelidan, North Wales. I've enjoyed their stunning displays of streptocarpus, begonias and indoor plants at the Chelsea Flower Show, Gardeners' World Live and other events for many years, and am always tempted to try something new.
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