SPECIAL USES. Seedlings for miniature gardens and greenhouses.
Columnea microphylla Gesneriaceae
Velvety trailer, suitable for small hanging baskets, with soft little mouse-ear leaves. But wow! the fiery-red flowers never heard of the word miniature. Their long slender tubes stand straight up from the dangling stems, flare out to a wide mouth through which you can look to see the yellow throat inside.
CARE. Warm, humid, humusy soil, filtered sun, moist.
PROPAGATION. Seeds, stem and leaf cuttings.
SPECIAL USES. Hanging baskets.
Cryptanthus Bromeliaceae Earth Stars
Not many bromeliads can rightly be called miniatures, and grow either in air or in soil to boot. These are low flat rosettes of stiff painted leaves, often with prickles on the edge and always unusually colored. From the heart, wee white flowers peep out, usually in summer. Some suppliers offer a grab-bag selection of hybrids, “no two alike.” Or you can buy these smaller species if you wish.
acaulis—Thin gray fuzz over rather mottled green leaves.
bahianus—These leaves are slimmer, curving at the tip and wavy on the edge, flushed or margined brick red, more upright than flat.