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Calceolaria tomentosa - Yellow Slipper Flower

Remember those marshmallow "Peeps" they sell around Easter time?  This is nature's version of that!  Cute as a newborn chick, the Yellow Slipper Flower, Calceolaria tomentosa, has unusual, air-filled blossoms that are super bright yellow.  It's hard to capture their brightness in photos, but they light up shady areas like light bulbs!  The plant comes from the cool Andes mountains around Peru, and it is sensitive to heat.  If you can provide the right conditions, it's an excellent collector's plant.  It is almost never seen for sale.

Calceolaria tomentosa - Yellow Slipper Flower

The Yellow Slipper Flower is an evergreen vine with shoots that meander about 6 feet long here in San Francisco.  Feel free to prune the shoots to any size that's convenient.  It has unusual leaves that are fuzzy like velvet - hence the species name tomentosa, meaning "hairy" in Latin.  The name Calceolaria means "little shoe", referring to the slipper-shaped blooms.  These 2 inch flowers appear most months of the year, even in winter, when most plants lack color.  As you can see, it makes lots of blooms!

Calceolaria tomentosa - Yellow Slipper Flower

The Slipper Flower prefers mild temperatures and cool nights.  It might not thrive if temperatures regularly get above 85°F (29°C), especially if nights are above 65°F (18°C).  I don't think it can handle frost.  This forest plant prefers filtered sun, and needs protection from strong afternoon sun.  The shoots may be tied to a trellis, sent up into neighboring bushes, or allowed to trail along the ground.  It prefers well-draining soil that is kept evenly moist.  Over about 40% humidity is best.  In the right conditions, it's a vigorous grower.

 

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