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You are viewing a single post made by rattlebox in the thread called Justicia 'Orange Flame'.
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Mar 20, 2014 9:37 PM CST
Name: Ron
Naples, Florida (Zone 10a)
Region: Florida Hummingbirder Butterflies Adeniums Bromeliad Hibiscus
Foliage Fan Plant and/or Seed Trader Xeriscape Seed Starter Garden Ideas: Level 1 Plant Identifier
The entry for Justicia 'Orange Flame' is probably Justicia 'Sidicaro', one of the common names for which is "Orange Flame" (not a cultivar name). The photos are certainly consistent with J. 'Sidicaro' and so probably could be merged with that.

However I feel the entry for Jacobinia chrysostephana should stand. Regardless where the scientific name ends up (Justicia..., Cyrtanthera chrysostephana, or whatever), I believe it refers to a specific and unique plant. Unfortunately, most of the photos representing Jacobinia chrysostephana appear to actually be of Justicia 'Sidicaro'. (Or of Justicia aurea; some sites even refer to Jacobinia chrysostephana as a synonym of Justicia aurea.) So there is much confusion being perpetuated out there.

Jacobinia chrysostephana has been in cultivation for about 130 years, and the old descriptions seem generally consistent with the description offered by Kartuz.
http://www.kartuz.com/pc/51884...

There are four main points, three of which are: flower color, flower shape, and leaf color. All three aspects are visible in this photo from the National Botanic Garden of Belgium:

http://www.br.fgov.be/RESEARCH...

and in this artistic rendering:

http://christchurchcitylibrari...

Flower color: color is variously (but similarly) described as orange-yellow, apricot orange, or golden yellow. Not the brilliant orange of Justicia 'Sidicaro' nor the clear yellow of Justicia aurea. A softer color, and somewhere between yellow and orange.

Flower shape: The lower lip of Jacobinia chrysostephana is similar to that of Justicia aurea, maybe a bit more reflexed, but not tightly curled under as with Justicia 'Sidicaro'.

Leaf color: It is repeatedly pointed out that the midrib and veins on the underside of the leaf are red, reddish, or maroon. I have Justicia 'Sidicaro' planted in multiple locations, some with better soil, more consistent water, and full sun, some neglected in poor soil, and one even in full shade. Regardless of the growing conditions, not a single plant shows any tendency toward reddish color on the undersides of the leaves.

The fourth point referred to above is bloom time. Jacobinia chrysostephana is consistently referred to specifically as a winter bloomer, with one reference giving a six-week winter blooming window. Justicia aurea is a summer bloomer, and while Justicia 'Sidicaro' blooms during the winter, it also blooms in spring, summer and fall.

A couple of important text references:

From the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, quoted here:

http://www.gardenology.org/wik...

And from the Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society (Number two of three references in this journal):

http://books.google.com/books?...

I kinda wish the REAL Jacobinia chrysostephana was more widely available.
[He] decided that if a few quiet beers wouldn't allow him to see things in a different light, then a few more probably would. - Terry Pratchett

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