Achimenes

In the wild Achimenes are mainly distributed in Mexico with some species native to Central and South America and the West Indies. The name Achimenes was first recorded in 1756 by Patrick Brown in his History of Jamaica. These plants were very popular in the nineteenth century when many new hybrids were introduced, their popularity picked up again in the 1940s but had declined again by the end of the twentieth century. We have managed to collect many varieties over the last few years and hope that yet again they can become the justly popular houseplants that they once were.
Unfortunately over the years the names of many cultivars have been mixed up and a form of Chinese whispers is played with exact spellings of the varieties e.g. 'Wetterlow's Triumph' which has in the past been erroneously called 'Wetterflow's Triumph', 'Wetterlous Triumph' and 'Westerlous Triumph'.

Using old achimenes catalogues and The Gesneriad Register 2008, Achimenes, we have hopefully corrected some errors in names and give you a reasonably accurate list of cultivars, some which date back to the 1850s.

A really eye catching variety, stunning bright red flowers with contrasting dark leaves on strong upright stems.

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Multicoloured flowers; deep purple overlaid orange with a bright yellow eye. A show winner. 24cm in height.

A compact small leafed variety. It has a mass of small bright red flowers.

An erect sturdy plant with medium/large deep orange flowers. Self supporting.

(syn. Lady Littleton) A lovely Victorian variety. This tall plant has large flowers which are purplish-red with a bright yellow throat containing red dots. A profuse bloomer.

A lax long plant which can be used in hanging baskets. Large showy purple flowers with a white eve.
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This plant has flowers which are small, orange/coral in colour, and light green foliage. A dainty variety quite distinct from other Achimenes.

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This plant is a real stunner with large white flowers, 7 cm across, on long stems. A good trailing variety.
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A vigorous growing variety, large rose-purple flowers and unusual deep purple netting. Long stems, ideal for baskets.
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By far the largest flowered achimenes, long stemmed and a real eye catcher. The flowers are smooth faced and a strong cornflower blue. Trailing habit.
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An upright habit with medium sized soft red flowers. The foliage is small and dark green.

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An upright habit with medium sized soft red flowers. The foliage is small and dark green.

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Another rare Victorian variety. Reddish purple flowers with a white eye and a distinctive 'spur'.

A fairly compact plant 20-25 cm high with bright coral-scarlet flowers. A vigorous variety which is very free flowering.


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Incredibly floriferous with a long flowering season. This variety has been in cultivation since the beginning of the last century.

A small leafed upright variety with a claret rose double flower, with a yellow centre.

This variety has a long flowering season, May to the end of October. The salmon /red flowers are small-medium sized on short stems.

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A lovely purple with unusual markings in the eye. Quite a tall variety.


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[syn 'Red Elfe'] This variety has rich wine red flowers with dark glossy foliage, an upright habit 25cm high.



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The large deep cerise pink flowers fade slightly to a mid rose pink, the surface has a ruffled texture. The foliage is dark green and very serrated on a medium/tall plant.
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Flowers are a lovely buttercup yellow accentuated by the brown spots in the throat. The foliage is a beautiful contrasting bronze with red on the underside. 30cm high.