Aeschynanthus (Lipstick Plant)

Aeschynanthus Rasta s a stunningly beautiful and unique plant. The leaves of the Aeschynanthus Rasta are thick and leathery, with a wavy edge that adds a sense of movement and dynamism to the overall display. The plant grows in a vine-like manner and at the end of each stem, a cluster of tubular, bright red flowers emerges, resembling a tube of lipstick. This native to tropical regions of Southeast Asia is also commonly referred to as a lipstick plant because of the shape of its flowers.

Aeschynanthus is a must-consider option if you are looking for your next trailing or hanging plant to brighten up your indoor space. These beautiful trailing epiphytes cascade out of their pots forming chainlink-like stems of bright glossy green foliage. If this plant only produced its foliage it would still be one of the best-looking houseplants around, but what sets this magical wonder apart from the rest is the incredible blooms of flowers, which is the reason it has been given the common name the lipstick plant. It produces clusters of vividly coloured red tuberous flowers that seemingly pop out of a deep maroon bud that gives it the appearance of a tube of lipstick.

This one-of-a-kind and easy-to-care-for evergreen belongs to the family Gesneriaceae which is made up of around 150 different species of tropical and sub-tropical plants, most of which originate from Southeast Asia. Like a lot of our favourite houseplants, this one is also found in humidity-rich jungle-like environments where they normally live as epiphytes, meaning they live by clinging to tree branches or tucked into crevices and cracks of rocks. In the wild, these marvellous plants can trail down in lengths of up to four to five feet and produce prolific displays of flowers that produce some of the best nectar that is irresistible to sunbirds.