Callisia fragrans

basket Plant
Tropical trailing rosettes cascade from long delicate stems. Purple tones in direct sun, but hot direct sun may burn the plant. Infrequent fragrant white flowers. Prolific.
height 8–18in
width 3–8ft
tolerates Cool Summers, Heat, Pots
water
needs		 Moderate
water
info		 Water tropical succulent regularly, when the top inch or so of soil feels dry. If you establish this pattern over several years, then you can cut back to watering every week or two in dry weather. Use drippers, emitters, or a slow stream of water so that it doesn’t run off; allow the water to trickle all the way down through the deepest layers of soil. In a pot slowly water the entire surface until water comes out of the bottom of your pot.

When temperatures are warm this plant will tolerate being constantly wet (with good drainage) and in fact grow rapidly under such conditions.
hardy
to		 30F
exposure Part Sun – Full Sun
indoor
outdoor		 In or Out
drainage In Ground: Cactus Mix, In Pots: Cactus Mix, Tolerates Sandy Soil
fertilizing All Purpose
origin C Mexico
california
native		 No
sunset
zones		 16, 17, 21–H2

Sunset Zones Map

SUNSET ZONES MAP

Growing Notes

Once a rosette is established it will send out a long shoot - or stolon - in search of a new home; wherever it lands it will root. With such expansion, this plant can become a large scale ground cover (as seen at the Huntington Botanical Gardens). This wandering growth style lends the basket plant to cascading from walls pots and hanging baskets.
Can tolerate full shade in hot inland areas where cover can also help protect this plant from hard frosts. Keep in mind that this plant is very fragile. If planted under trees the leaves can be tricky to get out of the rosettes of this plant. Use a blower for this, not a rake.

Special Interest

This plant also makes an excellent houseplant, where it transitions easily and looks great cascading off a mantle or hutch.