Cupflower
1 entry found.
Cupflower
Common Name: Cupflower
Botanical Name: Nierembergia hippomanica (N. caerulea), N. spp. (ne-rem-BER--gi-a hip-po-MAN-i-ca)
Decorative Life: 1-3 weeks at best for many cultivars depending on environment.
Family Roots:
- Member of the Solanaceae (nightshade family).
- Native to Argentina.
- Relatives include tobacco, eggplant, petunia, tomato and potato.
Personality:
- Species classed as a dicotyledon, leaves not parallel veined.
- Flowers are tubular, flaring into cup shape at end, up to 1 inch across.
- Stems much branched, hairy, with stiff narrow leaves.
Availability: Year-round.
Flower Color: Mostly in the blue, violet, purple range with some white and/or yellow.
Tidbits:
- Nierembergia: for Juan Eusebio Nieremberg, 1595-1658, a Spanish Jesuit and first professor of natural history at Madrid.
- This family has many poisonous members including the common weed, deadly nightshade, and the green skin of potatoes. On the other hand, it is a source of many commercial foods including potato, tomato, pepper and eggplant. Tobacco also is a member.
- Also grown as a bedding plant.
- One favorite cultivar is 'Mont Blanc' that has white flowers.
- Will generally do its best in light levels at least bright enough to read a newspaper in comfort but more light (up to filtered full sunlight) would be better.