''Congea tomentosa'' is a large tropical evergreen vine, commonly referred to as wooly congea, shower orchid, or shower of orchid. (Despite the name, it is not closely related to orchids). It is called ''lluvia de orquideas'' or ''terciopelo'' in
Spanish, ''krua on'' in
Thai, and ''rong bao teng'' in
Chinese. Native to
Myanmar
Myanmar, ; UK pronunciations: US pronunciations incl. . Note: Wikipedia's IPA conventions require indicating /r/ even in British English although only some British English speakers pronounce r at the end of syllables. As John C. Wells, Joh ...
and
Thailand, it can be found elsewhere in South Asia, including
Laos
Laos (, ''Lāo'' )), officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic ( Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ, French: République démocratique populaire lao), is a socialist ...
,
Vietnam,
Malaysia (
Kedah),
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
(
Yunnan), Bangladesh, and India (
Assam,
Manipur,
Tamil Nadu, and
West Bengal). Its native habitat is mixed forests 600–1200 meters above sea level.
[Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families]
/ref>Flora of China Vol. 17 Page 49 绒苞藤 rong bao teng ''Congea tomentosa'' Roxburgh, Pl. Coromandel. 3: 90. 1820.
/ref>
This tropical vine has been naturalized elsewhere, including the islands of the Caribbean, southern Florida, and southern California. In the United States, wooly congea can be grown outdoors in USDA zones
A hardiness zone is a geographic area defined as having a certain average annual minimum temperature, a factor relevant to the survival of many plants. In some systems other statistics are included in the calculations. The original and most wide ...
10 and 11. It does not tolerate frost.
The plant can grow to 3–5 meters (10–16 feet) in cultivation and even larger in its native state. The stems, leaves and bracts are covered with fine, downy hairs. The leaves are light green in color, 6-8 inches (15.2-20.3 centimeters) long, and quite attractive. They are evergreen with prominent veins and are arranged in opposite pairs. The actual flowers are tiny and inconspicuous, borne in the center of three showy white or violet 1 inch (2.5 centimeter) long bract
In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis or cone scale. Bracts are usually different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of ...
s that look like velvety propellers. From late winter to spring it produces sprays of showy flowers. The bracts gradually change color through pink, lavender, and finally grey over the course of several weeks.
Cultivation
It can be grown as a trailing or climbing vine, or pruned as a shrub. In frost-prone climates, it is grown in a warm greenhouse or conservatory. One should use a soil-based potting compost, provide maximum light but shade from direct sun, provide supports for the stems, and prune after flowering to contain the plant. Outdoors, it should be grown in moisture-retentive, fertile soil in full sun. It can be propagated from seed or semi-ripe cuttings and provided with bottom heat for both. The plant is easy to grow in almost any soil type. It should be watered regularly.
Uses and gallery
Whole branches with their flowering clusters are useful in cut flower arrangements.
Gardenology.org-IMG 7625 qsbg11mar.jpg
Starr 071024-0098 Congea tomentosa.jpg
Starr 980602-4414 Congea tomentosa.jpg
Starr 071024-0090 Congea tomentosa.jpg
References
External links
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{{Taxonbar, from=Q5160399
Lamiaceae
Flora of Asia
Flora of Indo-China
Plants described in 1820
Garden plants
Lamiales of Asia