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Re: Iresine

Sheila Craig wrote:
> 
> Just curious to see if anyone knows anything about an unusual house-plant
> called Iresine.
> 
> It's a beautiful foliage plant, completely crimson when grown in full sun.  I
> have clones from my Mother's plants. We've both been growing them for many
> years. She can't remember where she first acquired it from.  I've never seen
> Iresine in stores, and have found it in only one plant book ("The Houseplant
> Expert" - my indoor gardening "bible").
> 
> Last autumn I discovered that Iresine grows naturally in Nepal.  The variety I
> saw in Nepal appeared to be much sturdier than the variety I have (or perhaps
> its the difference in culture). The iresine we grow tends to have smaller
> leaves and the stems are not strong - the plant tends to "cascade" when the
> stems get to be 20 cms (a foot) tall.  I find that after a year, the long
> stems get a bit scraggly and need to be cut back hard.  Progation from stem
> cuttings is very easy.
> 
> I'd be interested in other people's growing tips.
> 
> -Sheila

I thought perhaps you would  be interested in an article on Iresines
which I found in Volume 6 of my Encyclopedia of Gardening.   According
to this source, "Between twenty and twenty-five species have been
described, but few are cultivated.  They are natives of tropical and
subtropical America, and belong to the Amaranth family, Amaranthaceae".

It says, as you do, that Iresine is easily propagated by cuttings and
"grow so rapidly that cuttings started during March and April furnish
good-sized plants for the summer beds and borders by the first week in
June". However "Iresines are tender plants and almost the first to
suffer damage from frost, so they must be kept in a greenhouse from
October to April". Have you ever tried growing them outside in a flower
bed?  Sounds interesting, thanks for telling us of them; I'll see
whether I can find them here.

Vera in San Jose
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