Members only
Unlock the Plant Library
Care guides for 220+ plants: light, water, soil, pets, seasonal calendars and troubleshooting. Enter the password from your welcome email to get in.
Plant Profiles / Lipstick plant
Photos: Wikimedia Commons
Lipstick plant
Aeschynanthus radicans · Lipstick vine
Glossy trailing stems tipped with bright red tubular flowers emerging from dark 'lipstick tube' calyces.
Bright indirect lightLight
WeeklyWater
ModerateCare level
Care at a glance
Light
Bright indirect light
ShadeFull sun
No harsh sun.
Water
Weekly
DryWet
Water when the top 2 cm is dry.
Humidity
Average to high
LowHigh
Likes humidity.
Temperature
15–30°C (59–86°F)
CoolWarm
Keep above 12°C.
Growth
Moderate, trailing
SlowFast
Trails to 90 cm.
Soil
Airy epiphyte mix
LeanRich
Mix with bark and perlite.
Fertiliser
Monthly in summer
RarelyOften
Bloom fertiliser.
Pet safety
Non-toxic
SafeToxic
Non-toxic to pets.
About this plant
From Southeast Asian rainforests, lipstick plant is an epiphyte. It flowers best with bright light and a cooler, drier winter rest.
Best spots
Hanging pots near bright windows and humid bathrooms.
Plant facts
| Botanical name | Aeschynanthus radicans |
| Family | Gesneriaceae |
| Origin | Southeast Asia |
| Plant type | Trailing epiphyte |
| Mature size | Trails 90 cm |
| Growth rate | Moderate |
| Flowers | Red tubes |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic to pets |
| Propagation | Cuttings |
Seasonal care calendar
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Repot
Flowering
Prune
Fertilise
RepotFloweringPruneFertilise
Based on Southern Hemisphere seasons.
Troubleshooting
| No flowers | More light and a cool winter. |
| Leaf drop | Cold draughts or dry. |
| Leggy | Prune after flowering. |
| Mushy stems | Overwatering. |
Common questions
Is it pet safe?
Yes.
How do I get flowers?
Bright light and a winter rest.
Does it trail?
Yes.
Does it like humidity?
Yes.
