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Conservatory GreenhouseHouseplants

Gynura aurantiaca

purple velvet plant

A species of evergreen perennial grown primarily as houseplants, with dark green leaves and stems which are both clothed in bright purple hairs, especially on the undersides. Plants can grow upwards or recline against other objects. Flower heads have yellow, orange or red discs and have a strong odour but they do not produce ray flowers. These appear mostly in winter

Other common names

royal velvet plant
velvet plant

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.5–1 metres

Loam

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

H1B

Botanical details

Family: Asteraceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Climbing, Columnar upright, Spreading branched
Genus: Gynura are evergreen perennials and sub-shrubs, some scrambling or trailing, with toothed leaves. The orange or yellow flowers have no ray florets
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Sumatra to Jawa

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow indoors in a peat-free, loam-based potting compost in bright, filtered light. Train up a support, or pinch out shoots to keep more compact and encourage new shoots

Propagation

Propagate by softwood cuttings in late spring, or semi-ripe cuttings in summer, both with bottom heat

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Houseplants
Patio and container plants
Sub-tropical
Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

No pruning required. Cut in spring or summer if plant becomes too large

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids and glasshouse red spider mite

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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