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Rare and exotic plants & seeds
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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, is an unusual rarity with air-filled, bright yellow flowers. The blooms are so bright, they light up shady areas like light bulbs! This cool climate species isn't for everyone, but in the right environment it's a terrific collector's plant that's rarely available.
The Yellow Slipper Flower is a perennial vine from Peru that meanders to around 6-8 feet long here in San Francisco. It's an evergreen species with unusual leaves that are fuzzy - hence the species name tomentosa, which means "hairy" in Latin. The genus name Calceolaria means "little shoe", referring to the slipper-shaped flowers. The 1½-2 inch blooms appear most months of the year, even in winter, when most other plants lack color. This is an extremely eye-catching plant for the shade garden.
The Slipper Flower comes from the cool Andes mountains, where temperatures are mild year-round. Consider it experimental in areas that regularly get over the low 80s, especially if nights are warm. I doubt it can handle any frost, however you can grow it in a pot and move it indoors when temperatures approach freezing. It can tolerate a good amount of sun in cooler weather, but in warmer areas it should be grown in shade. You can let it trail near the ground and climb up into bushes, or you may tie it to a trellis. It prefers well-draining soil, regular watering, and over 50% humidity.
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For detailed growing tips about this plant, click here.
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