Description of Achimenes
The photo of Achimenes shows that this plant has long curly stems with pubescent thin oval-shaped leaves. The flowers resemble a funnel in appearance. Their appearance depends on the variety. The colors of the flowers can be different: red, snow-white, lilac, pinkish.
Achimenes belongs to the genus Gesneriaceae. It is a fairly heat-loving plant. This follows from the name itself, which translates as “no cold”.
Types of Achimenes with photos
Species achimenes are much less striking than varietal ones. Their shape and colors, although cute, are usually quite modest. However, unlike the more popular genera of Gesneriaceae, the species Achimenes can be found in cultivation.
Comment! Most varieties and hybrids are obtained by crossing Achimenes Long-flowered and Large-flowered.
Lion's Eye
Similar to Kohleria, Achimenes antirrhina or Entiraina is a rather variable species. Forms a compact bush. The color of the flowers can be completely red. But usually the limb is yellow, with crimson stripes and spots.
Read more Achimenes flower: care and propagation at home, photos, diseases and pests
There are a lot of color combinations; to an inexperienced gardener it may seem that these are artificially bred varieties. In fact, only nature worked on Achimenes Lvinozev.
Achimenes Lioness resembles Koleria
Yellow
Achimenes flava or Flava is a natural species. An erect herbaceous plant with green, serrated leaves. Shoots have a burgundy tint and are prone to drooping. The flowers are small and yellow. The throat is much lighter than the limb, decorated with burgundy specks.
Achimenes Yellow is the name of the species, not a description of the color of the flower
Tiny
Achimenes misera is actually not that small. It grows up to 25 cm. The shoots are erect, with small green leaves and tiny flowers, the diameter of which does not exceed 1 cm. The plant probably got its name precisely because of them.
If the growth of stems is not controlled, they are prone to lodging. But this does not make Achimenes Misera stand out, but simply looks sloppy. The shoots have a reddish tint. The flowers are white, slightly flattened, with a purple spot.
Achimenes Tiny owes its name to the flowers, the diameter of which reaches only 1 cm.
Long-flowered
Achimenes longiflora is one of the progenitors of most cultivated varieties and hybrids. It is a hanging plant up to 30 cm high. The stems are drooping and branch weakly. The shoots and oblong green leaves are pubescent.
The flowers are violet-blue, solitary, on a long, up to 5 cm, tube. They emerge from the axils of the leaves.
Achimenes longiflora has a natural white form
Large-flowered
Achimenes grandiflora is not a collective name for varieties with large-diameter corollas, but a natural species that took part in their creation. Forms a bush up to 60 cm high. The shoots are erect, but under the weight of the huge corollas, about 5 cm wide, they bend. Therefore, it can be grown as a hanging plant. Just don’t expect hanging lashes; they don’t fall, but bend.
The flowers are purple, often with a reddish tint. Lighten up before wilting. There is a noticeable white convex spot at the throat.
Achimenes grandiflora - the species that gave rise to many cultural Achimenes
Important! A species such as Achimenes Hybrid does not exist in nature. He is a figment of someone's imagination.
Hybrid is a plant obtained by crossing different species or varieties. The connection of genes can be accidental (natural), or forced (artificial), when nature is helped by humans.
Varieties and types
There are only a few species of this plant and a large number of different varieties. The most common types are:
Achimenes longiflora. Plant height 0.3 m. Leaves are pubescent, drooping. They have an elongated shape and light green color. The flowers are solitary, quite large in size, growing from the leaf axils.
Achimines grandiflora. Its homeland is Mexico. Grows up to 0.6 m. It has large, long leaves. Most often, just a couple of purple flowers appear.
Achimines hybrid. Most popular. It is characterized by a special shape of flowers and a fairly long flowering period. It has pubescent lanceolate leaves with teeth.
In addition, a conditional division of all achimenes into erect and hanging, as well as terry and simple is used.
Achimenes can have a pale pink, blue-blue, scarlet, lilac, yellow, and white color.
The most notable varieties are Blue Star, Peach Cascade, Serge Saliba and Glory.
Classification of Achimenes
All Achimenes are beautiful, but they are extremely heat-loving and die already at a temperature of 14 °C. It is this, as well as the need to maintain rhizomes during the dormant period in special conditions, that restrains their spread in culture.
There is no single classification of Achimenes based on external characteristics. Just like other popular representatives of the Gesneriaceae family.
Varietal and hybrid achimenosyphen are conventionally divided into groups. New cultivars are constantly appearing, which are difficult to limit within the framework of classification.
Separation according to the nature of shoot growth
Achimenes prefer to grow in bright sunlight. Some of them are grown in ordinary pots, others in hanging flowerpots:
- erect - with branches growing upward, rigid enough so that they can be formed into a compact bush;
- ampelous achimenes are distinguished by soft creeping or hanging shoots; their growth is usually not limited; pruning serves sanitary rather than decorative purposes.
Classification of flowers
Sometimes varieties and hybrids of Achimenes are even classified by flower color. But more often they are divided by the diameter of the corolla and the number of petals.
The size of a fully opened bud is called:
- large-flowered - with a diameter of 4.5 cm or more;
- medium-flowered – 3-4.5 cm;
- small-flowered - up to 3 cm.
Achimenes can be:
- simple - with 5 petals and a long tube;
- Terry achimenes are distinguished by petals growing in 2 or more rows.
Comment! One bush can contain different types of buds at the same time. Terry is an unstable sign.
Achimenes flowers can differ in size, color, shape and number of petals.
The shape of flowers in Achimenes is:
- round;
- campanulate;
- long-flowered.
The tube at the corollas is always present - this is a distinctive feature of Achimenes. Just the size may change. In some varieties, its length is several times greater than the diameter of the brightly colored limb. The petals of others, through the efforts of breeders, make the tube almost invisible.
Methods for propagating Achimenes
The Achimenes plant can be propagated:
- seeds;
- cuttings;
- rhizomes.
You will not regret if you purchase Achimenez. Its flowers of bright or, on the contrary, muted shades will delight you and your guests for quite a long time.
The best varieties of Achimenes with photos and descriptions
During the growing season, Achimenes are almost completely covered with buds. The corollas that have begun to fade are replaced by opening flowers without interruption. This is the main charm of culture.
Read more How to store achimenes in winter at home
Achimenes varieties have surprisingly varied flowers. Some can be distinguished from petunias only by their leaves, while the buds of others resemble tiny but amazingly beautiful roses.
Nero
A variety of French breeder Serge Saliba (S. Saliba), bred in 2011. The flowers are small, 2.7-3 cm in diameter, bright red, irregular in shape. The bush is small and neat. The shoots are erect, the leaves are light green. Tolerates heat well.
Achimenes Nero tolerates heat well
Tropical Dusk
Another variety by Serge Saliba, created in 2011. The bush is erect, the rhizomes are elongated, white with pink.
The flowers are consistently double, of medium size - about 3.5 cm. The main color is pinkish-lilac. The corolla is painted with rich purple broad strokes. Varietal feature - in good lighting, yellow, orange, peach “shadows” appear.
In Achimenes Tropical Dusc, peach shadows appear only in intense lighting
Ice T
Serge Saliba variety registered in 2007. The bush is erect, but the shoots bend under the weight of numerous flowers. The variety can be grown as a hanging variety. The leaves are dark, with a burgundy underside. Rhizomes are elongated, purple in color.
The edge is a rich crimson-purple color. At the entrance to the pharynx there is a brown speck. The inside of the tube itself is yellow.
In fact, the Achimenes Ice Ti bush is erect, but without pruning it bends under the weight of the flowers.
Hot Spot
Created in 2012, the Serge Saliba variety. Ahmenes is a blurry yellow color. In hot weather with good lighting, chaotic scarlet strokes appear on the corollas. Flowers are double and semi-double. The bush is erect.
At high temperatures, Achimenes Hot Spot appears on the flower with scarlet strokes
Alter ego
The variety is very similar to Indy, only terry. Created by Serge Salib in 2012. The flowers are unusually large for Achimenes - about 5 cm in diameter, with good care they easily reach 6-7 cm. The color of the corolla depends on temperature and light. The color can vary from blue to deep blue with a purple tint. The bush is tall and branched.
The flowers of Achimenes Alter Ego are very large
Golden Lady
The variety was created in 2007 by Serge Salib. Forms an upright bush with burgundy stems and large, bright green leaves. Rhizomes are white, elongated.
The flower is semi-double, large, with a blurry yellow corolla. The petals are decorated with purple shadows. In cool weather, irregular lilac spots appear. The pharynx is surrounded by a rim of a more saturated shade than that of the limb.
Flowers of Achimenes Golden Lady are decorated with purple shades
Glory
Classic. This unpretentious, easy-to-care flower is suitable for your first experience in growing Achimenes. Forms a small neat bush with erect shoots. If desired, it can be grown as an ampel plant.
The limbs are of medium size - 3-3.5 cm in diameter, red-coral, with a yellow throat. There are brownish streaks in front of the entrance to the tube. The variety is characterized by early abundant flowering.
The Glory variety can be called a classic Achimenes
Nocturne
This variety proves that Achimenes have different doubles. The main advantage of Nocturne is its wine-red, large flowers with a diameter of 4.5 cm on a long tube. The variety is positioned as terry. In practice, it often shows only one row of petals. Well, this often happens with culture - its terryness is unstable.
Read more How to store achimenes in winter at home
Nocturne is a representative of the ampelous varieties of Achimenes. The stems are quite thin, but with regular pruning you can make the bush look upright.
Achimenes Nocturne should be double, but often displays simple flowers
Double Pink Rose
One of the best terry varieties, although old. Released in 1993, authorship belongs to S. Mossop. The shoots are erect, but bend under the weight of the buds. Can be grown as an ampel. It is distinguished by narrow light green leaves and elongated pink rhizomes.
The flowers are larger than average in size, double, very beautiful. The color is soft, marshmallow pink.
Double Pink Rose - an old but very beautiful variety of Achimenes
Petite Fadette
Miniature variety by Serge Saliba. The bush is small, compact with small dark green leaves. The folds are terry, dark red, on a long white tube. Blooms profusely.
One bush of Achimenes Petite Fadetta can have double and single flowers.
Anastasia
The variety was created in 2013 by Serge Salib. Typical ampel. The leaves are green and long. The flowers are variably double. On one bush there may be branches with one or several rows of petals. For Achimenes this is normal. Sometimes a rudimentary petal is located in the center of the corolla. The color of the flowers is pastel pink. At the base of the fold you can see crimson streaks.
Flowers of the Achimenes variety Anastasia have variable doubleness
Dot
Semi-ampelous variety bred by S. Mossop. Compact bush with purple tinge on stems and undersides of leaves. Flowers up to 3 cm in diameter, simple, pale lilac, with a yellow spot at the throat and purple radial rays.
The Dot variety is semi-ampelic, it can be grown on a windowsill or in a hanging basket
Sabrina
A classic old variety, created in 1990 by S. Mossop. The bush is erect, with light brown shoots and dark green, burgundy, jagged leaves on the inside.
The flowers are small, about 2 cm, coral pink, simple. The tube is the same color as the bend. The throat has a bright yellow spot with brown dots.
The old variety of Achimenes Sabrina has not lost popularity for almost 30 years.
White Glory
White varieties of Achimenes are represented by White Glory. From a distance it can be mistaken for a petunia. But upon closer inspection, a long, thick tube is revealed. The shoots are erect, with small, grassy-green leaves, short and quite wide for Achimenes.
The flower is unusually beautiful, large, up to 6 cm in diameter. The edges of the petals are corrugated, the surface is embossed. There is a yellow spot at the entrance to the tube. Sometimes at low temperatures the limb acquires a light lilac tint.
From afar, Achimenes White Glory can easily be confused with petunia
Photo of Achimenes
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