Drymonia chiribogana is a terrific, rare African Violet relative that deserves to become more widely grown.  Its purple flowers are certainly pretty, but its real flair is its thick, oversized leaves with excellent variegation.  The leaves have a satiny sheen that can change the leaf color depending on the viewing angle.  The plant is well-shaped and blooms throughout the year.  This is an excellent, easy houseplant, and would make a fine show plant.  It comes from rain forests in Ecuador, where it is rare and at risk of becoming extinct.  It is rarely seen for sale.

The plant somewhat resembles a "rubber tree" Ficus, with its large, leathery leaves and upright growth.  It can grow over 6 feet tall, but you can prune it to any size you wish.  The leaves grow to about 5 to 8 inches long and have white veins along a velvety, dark green background (copper on the newer growth).  Blooms dangle throughout the older branches most months of the year for me.  The flowers are about 1.5 inches long, and have purple petals with yellow & red markings inside.  After flowering it makes bright yellow fruit that is shaped like lips!

It comes from tropical hills, where the climate is mild all year.  I have only grown it indoors between 60 and 80 degrees F (16-27°C), and i don't know how well it grows outside that temperature range.  It do know it enjoys bright, filtered light.  It probably needs some protection from strong afternoon sun.  It prefers a well-draining soil mix that's kept evenly moist.  Over about 50% humidity is best.  In the right conditions, it's a surprisingly easy and durable plant.

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Germination tips for this plant