These subshrubby, evergreen plants, which produce their flowers in the winter, are found wild in Mexico and Central America. Centradenia grandifolia grows to 2 feet high. Its winged branches are covered with long, pointy leaves that are red underneath. It’s a lovely, bushy plant that produces terminal clusters of light rose-pink flowers that will last a while when cut. Centradenia inaequilateralis grows up to1 foot high; it produces terminal clusters of pink flowers and also has red coloring underneath its leaves. Centradenia floribunda has red stems and lilac-rose flowers.

They can be grown in pots filled with one part loam, two parts leaf mold or peat moss and a bit of sand. The greenhouse should have a minimum winter temperature of 55 degrees.

Side shoots are inserted in a warm case in February.

Centradenia grandifolia;
Centradenia floribunda;
Centradenia inaequilateralis