Dichorisandra penduliflora
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Stickmannia penduliflora
- Phonetic Spelling
- dy-kor-i-SAN-drah pen-du-li-FLO-ra
- Description
-
The weeping blue ginger is a perennial often used as a container or houseplant. This species is native to northeast Brazil and is a member of the spiderwort family (Commelinaceae). The genus name, Dichorisandra, originated from the Greek words, dis, meaning "two," chori, meaning "separate," and andros, meaning "anther." This refers to the arrangement of the stamens on each flower. Four stamens are upright and two are spreading. The specific epithet, penduliflora, is derived from the Latin words, pendulus, meaning "hanging, and flora, meaning "flowers." This references how the flowers appear on pendulous stems.
Weeping blue ginger will grow in full sun with afternoon shade, partial shade, and dappled shade. The plant prefers moist, well-drained loamy soils. It is not frost tolerant and is hardy in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 9 to 11. It is humidity tolerant and resistant to verticillium wilt. It may be propagated by stem cuttings or division.
The plant grows 2 to 4 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide. It has drooping stems; the leaves are dark green, glossy, and narrowly elliptic or lanceolate. The undersides of the leaves are pubescent. The small blue flowers appear in clusters, 3-petaled, and bloom throughout the year.
The flowers attract bees, and in warmer climates this plant would be suitable for a pollinator garden. Consider a container planting for your home for a yearlong display of blue flowers.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Monitor for spider mites, mealybugs, aphids, whiteflies, scale, and thrips. Leaf spot, powdery mildew and root rot can occur
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Dichorisandra
- Species:
- penduliflora
- Family:
- Commelinaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Northeast Brazil
- Wildlife Value:
- The flowers attract bees.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Easy to Grow
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- verticillium wilt
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Houseplant
- Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Erect
- Maintenance:
- Low
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Winter
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The flowers are blue, 3-petaled, and measure about 0.5 to 0.75 inches in diameter. They are displayed in clusters on pendulous stems and blooms year-round. On sunny days the flowers close in the afternoon, but on cloudy days they remain open all throughout the day.
-
-
Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are dark green, glossy, narrowly elliptic, and the undersides of the leaves are pubescent. Young leaves may have a purplish hue on the undersides.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Description:
- The stems are green, upright, branching with a weeping or pendulous habit.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Landscape Theme:
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Humidity