Chinese Lantern – Sandersonia aurantiaca

Common Name: Chinese Lantern, Christmas Bells

Botanical Name: Sandersonia aurantiaca, san-der-SO-ni-a a-ran-ti-A-ca

Flower Color: Orange

Availability: Summer

High to moderate light intensities and 70-80F temperatures produced the best quality flowers.

• Named for John Sanderson, ~1820-1891, honorary secretary of the Horticultural Society of Natal.
• Specific epithet name “aurantiaca” means orange-red, in reference to its flower color.
• Gets it common name from the shape of the flowers.
• This species was reportedly first commercialized as a cut flower in the 1980s in New Zealand. Now grown in many countries.