More beautiful than colorful herbaceous plants, as easy to cultivate as common perennials, more prodigal of flowers, except during the few months when it sinks into its winter’s rest, the Achimenes is an invaluable gift to everyone who has a warm greenhouse.
“Mr. Hartweg found it growing wild in the ravines of Guatemala, and sent its roots home last spring… of easiest cultivation, flowering in August and continuing covered with large violet flowers for three or four months. It seems to flourish in any free soil and is more easily propagated than any plant with which I am acquainted.”
The author of this extravagant praise for a flowering plant was Dr. John Lindley, the famous British botanist, writing in Edwards’ Botanical Register in 1842.
The plant, a native of tropical America, started a fabulous reign of popularity in Western Europe which lasted over 50 years.
The Origin Of The Name And Achimenes History
The name achimenes (a-kim’ enez), according to Webster’s Dictionary, comes from the Latin achaemenis a magic plant (Pliny) from the Greek achaimenis.
The name appears to have been published first by Patrick Browne, a physician, and ardent naturalist, in 1756.
In his book “History of Jamaica”, Browne used the name for Achimenes coccinea a plant later identified as Columnea hirsuta.
William Forsyth had brought Achimenes coccinea to England in 1778, where it became well known under the name Cyrilla pulchella and was prized for its myriads of bright scarlet flowers and finely cut foliage.
New To Europe
Until it flowered in the gardens of the Horticultural Society of London, nobody in Europe had ever seen a living plant of Achimenes longiflora.
It is no wonder that the discovery of an achimenes flower, six or eight times as big as Achimenes coccinea, and blue or lavender in color instead of scarlet, would prove exciting to botanists.
It opened a whole new world of possible plant breeding.
New Achemines Introduced
Along with Achimenes longlflora two other species were sent to England from Guatemala in 1841 by Theodore Hartweg. These were Achimenes peduncuiata, a tall plant with flaming orange flowers marked with red lines and dots, and Achimenes rosea, which was later accepted as a continental American variation of Achimenes coccinea, having larger flowers of less saturated color.
In 1842 Achimenes grandifiora reached England from Mexico via Belgium. This had violet purple flowers of distinctive form and foliage of interesting texture and color.
That same year Achimenes multi-flora reached England from Brazil via Scotland, and in 1843Achimenes hirsuta (skinneri) was accidentally imported in sonic plant litter used to pack orchids.
Related to African Violet
As is so often the case with flowering plants, the hybrids and garden forms of achimenes far surpassed many of the natural species in size and beauty.
Consequently, the multiplication of kinds absorbed some of the best nursery growers of Europe. Home gardeners abroad began collecting varieties and new hybrids were created to meet the demand.
Achimenes A New World Plant
Achimenes is found only in the Western Hemisphere, from Mexico south to Brazil, including perhaps Peru, and the adjacent islands.
It is a member of the Gesneriaceae family, which has several other members occurring in sharply restricted areas.
Perhaps the best known gesneriad, the saintpaulia or African violet, grows naturally only in Africa.
Popular in Europe and Not In The US
A number of native American plants have been cherished by European gardeners and ignored by growers in the United States.
Why the achimenes should share that fate is almost as great a mystery as the waning popularity of this lovely plant in 20th century Europe after being such a tremendous favorite during the preceding 50 years.
Achimenes have been grown in the states bordering on the Gulf of Mexico for decades. They are used in porch boxes and in foundation plantings and terraced flower beds, particularly in shady locations.
The rhizomes are allowed to remain in the ground over the winter in these mild climates, as they do in their native mountain valleys farther south.
Although they are easy to cultivate in greenhouses, and also make satisfactory plants for window sill gardens indoors, achimenes have never been widely grown in the United States.
However, the number of gardeners who are now growing achimenes is increasing rapidly.
Gardeners need a plant that will bloom profusely in shady locations. The current enthusiasm concerning home greenhouses has had a share in that revival.
A New Hobby Unfolds
The many different colors and flower forms among the achimenes are once again encouraging house plant enthusiasts to make collections. The ease with which plants are multiplied makes it convenient list friendly growers to exchange varieties and soon acquire an interesting assortment.
Window-sill gardeners – who have mastered the cultivation of the African violet and looked for something more rewarding have found it in the achimenes.
It’s a member of the same plant family thriving under the same cultural conditions. For them, the dwarf, compact-growing achimenes varieties are interesting to grow, like the low-growing species Achimenes ehrenbergi, the woolly achimenes, and Achimenes candida.
The ease with which Achimenes Purple King may be grown, and its ready adaptability to either pot culture (with a minimum of staking) or hanging baskets or flower boxes under windows or at the edge of terraces, make it the most popular and widely grown variety
When To Plant Achimenes
Dormant rhizomes are available from early spring and may be potted any time from February to the first of June.
If the rhizomes have not already started to sprout when received, scatter them over the surface of a moist medium such as vermiculite, sawdust, screened peat moss or sphagnum moss and store in a warm place (70 to 90° F) until sprouts appear.
The sprouted rhizomes may be placed three to five in a four-inch pot or more in a larger pot or grown singly in two-inch pots. When warm weather comes, they can be transplanted outdoors. Pots without drainage holes in the bottom should be avoided.
The cultural requirements are simple and easy to provide, but it is vital that they be met if a satisfactory bloom is wanted.
The Essentials of Achimenes Cultivation
- A growing medium that is coarse to provide both perfect drainage and air in the root area. At the same time, a medium “fluffy” with organic material is needed to retain moisture and provide easy travel for the hair-like roots.
Moisture and Humidity
- Moisture is needed at all times. The plants will go prematurely dormant if the growing medium is allowed to dry out completely at any time during the growing season. High humidity of the surrounding air is desirable.
- Semi-shade
- Temperate conditions, as frost will kill the plants. Temperatures from 55° – 80° degrees Fahrenheit are ideal. These limits may be exceeded for short periods without serious harm.
- Adequate nourishment. The size and quantity of bloom depend on a plentiful supply of plant food, preferably supplied in liquid form.
Achimenes have been grown successfully in coarse leaf mold, vermiculite, sphagnum, sand, granulated charcoal, and sawdust. In all cases of growth in inert media, it is necessary to water frequently with a nutrient solution.
Any completely water-soluble liquid fertilizer may be used. Follow the manufacturer’s label directions.
Growing in straight peat moss peat has not been as successful, apparently because of too much moisture retention. Neutral to strongly acid soils may be used with no apparent difference in plant performance.
The Best Achimenes Soil Mix
Perhaps the best all-around recommendation for a soil mixture in which to grow achimenes is one-third drainage material.
This may be coarse sand, fine gravel or crushed stone, vermiculite (either the fine granular or the coarse insulation type), granulated charcoal or coarse sawdust.
One-third loam of good quality with plenty of humus or sifted compost is the second component.
To this add, one-third moisture-retaining stuff such as sifted peat moss, sifted sphagnum, or coarse leaf mold.
It should be kept in mind that vermiculite and coarse leaf mold serve both to retain moisture and at the same time to provide drainage of excess water from the root area.
Manures
The use of animal manures has been observed as the cause of harmful effects on both the hair-like filament roots of Achimenes and on the rhizomes.
Unless the soil mixture can be sterilized before use, it is probably best to avoid the use of animal manures for growing achimenes. Instead, rely on liquid fertilizer applied during the frequent watering which the plants require.
Cold Water And Spotting Leaves
Cold water makes spots on the leaves of achimenes as it does in the case of African violets and other gesneriads. It is good practice to keep water off the foliage or to make sure that it is warmed to room temperature before use.
Drafty locations should be avoided because they lead to excessive drying of the plants. Likewise, they interfere with the high humidity conditions in which achimenes thrive.
End Of The Growing Season
Toward the end of the growing season, most achimenes start to develop growths in the axils of the uppermost leaves resembling the underground rhizomes except that they are smaller, darker in color, and covered with a waxy substance.
These “axillary cones”, as they are sometimes called, may be gathered when mature – just before they drop off the plants. They are planted the same as the underground rhizomes.
Because of the waxy or sticky coaling, they require a considerably longer time to sprout and grow than is needed by the underground rhizomes.
Achimenes Dormancy
Shriveling of the lower leaves, cessation of flowering and the development of axillary rhizomes in some varieties are signs of approaching dormancy.
At this time, withhold water. When the stems dry, they are sheared off and the pots may be stored in a warm, dry place until spring.
Achimenes rhizomes will keep perfectly in the growing medium of the previous season, or they may be screened out of the soil and stored in dry vermiculite or peat.
The plants, however, can usually be grown two seasons in a clay pot or three years in a hanging basket until the multiplication of the rhizomes makes it time to replant.
The normal multiplication of rhizomes is five from one. Thus a stock of achimenes is a good investment, not only in pleasure when the plants are in bloom but also in sharing these charming plants.
HCM-0356 – Arnold Paul, New York