A Southeast Asian epiphytic vine grown as a hanging houseplant for its tubular red flowers that emerge from dark calyxes like a lipstick from its tube.
Description
Lipstick plant has thick waxy oval leaves on long trailing stems. At the stem tips clusters of dark purple calyxes burst open with bright red tubular flowers, suggesting tubes of lipstick.
Cultivation
It grows on trees in the wild. Indoors it likes bright filtered light, evenly moist but airy soil, and good humidity. Cool nights in autumn help trigger flowering.
Uses
Long popular as a flowering hanging-basket houseplant, modern cultivars include lines with curly leaves, variegated foliage, and pink, orange, or yellow flowers.