How to Grow Columnea 'Katsura'
Wikimedia Commons
Columnea 'Katsura'
Columnea × 'Katsura'
flowerColumnea 'Katsura' is a hybrid trailing plant in the Gesneriaceae family, prized for its vibrant red and yellow tubular flowers that resemble goldfish. This tropical epiphytic plant thrives as a houseplant or in warm greenhouses, producing cascading stems laden with blooms. It's an excellent choice for hanging baskets and indoor gardens where humidity can be maintained.
When should you plant Columnea 'Katsura' in your zone?
Get a personalized planting timeline — when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Free to start.
Example Columnea 'Katsura' timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
-
Plant Columnea 'Katsura'
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
-
Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
-
First Columnea 'Katsura' blooms
Around Aug 15≈ 120 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Columnea 'Katsura' dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Zones 11-12; requires frost-free conditions and is best grown indoors in cooler climates
Sign up free to see if Columnea 'Katsura' grows in your zone — and get a personalized planting timeline.
Get my Columnea 'Katsura' timeline →Growth Stages
Propagation & Establishment
3-4 weeksRooted cuttings or young plantlets establish new root systems and begin producing small leaves
Maintain high humidity (70%+), provide bright indirect light, keep soil lightly moist, use rooting hormone for cuttings, and be patient as growth is initially slow
Vegetative Growth
6-12 weeksPlant develops trailing stems with glossy, textured foliage; stems grow vigorously in length
Provide consistent warmth (65-75°F), maintain humidity, pinch stem tips occasionally to encourage branching, feed weekly with dilute balanced fertilizer, and ensure excellent drainage
Bud Formation
2-3 weeksFlower buds appear along the stems, typically red tubular formations clustered in leaf axils
Maintain warmth and humidity, reduce nitrogen and increase phosphorus/potassium fertilizer, ensure bright indirect light, avoid moving the plant, and continue regular misting
Flowering
6-16 weeks (extended blooming period)Vibrant red and yellow tubular flowers bloom in clusters; individual flowers last 1-2 weeks, blooming extends over months
Maintain consistent temperature (65-75°F), continue humid conditions, do not overwater (slightly reduce frequency), deadhead spent flowers to encourage more blooms, and provide bright light
Post-Bloom Rest
4-8 weeksFlowering tapers, plant may enter brief dormancy with slower growth
Reduce watering gradually, lower nitrogen fertilizer, maintain warmth, provide slightly reduced light, and prepare for next growth cycle in spring/summer
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
-
Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; isolate affected plant; inspect weekly and remove with alcohol-dipped cotton swabs for light infestations
-
Remove manually with soft brush or cloth; treat with horticultural oil or systemic insecticide; repeat applications every 7-10 days as needed
-
Increase humidity significantly through daily misting; spray with water or insecticidal soap; neem oil effective for severe cases; isolate from other plants
-
Allow soil surface to dry slightly between waterings; use yellow sticky traps; apply insecticidal soap to soil; repot in fresh soil if severe
Uses
Indoor Ornamental Display
HouseholdColumnea 'Katsura' is prized as a decorative houseplant for hanging baskets, shelf displays, and living room centerpieces. The vibrant red and yellow flowers provide year-round tropical color in indoor spaces. [source]
Hummingbird & Pollinator Attraction
WildlifeThe tubular flowers are specially adapted to attract hummingbirds and other nectar-feeding pollinators. Growing it outdoors in frost-free zones provides a food source for wildlife. [source]
Living Plant Arrangements & Terrariums
CraftColumnea's trailing habit makes it ideal for high shelves, mounted arrangements, and humid terrarium displays. Designers use it in living walls and vertical garden installations. [source]
Air Purification & Interior Wellness
HouseholdLike other Gesneriaceae family members, Columnea contributes to indoor air quality while adding visual interest and natural beauty to home interiors. [source]
Harvest Tips
Not a harvest plant; deadhead spent flowers by gently removing faded blooms at the base to encourage continuous flowering throughout the season. Remove any yellowing or damaged foliage at the stem base.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Columnea 'Katsura' flowers are sometimes called 'Goldfish Plants' because their tubular red and yellow blooms resemble small goldfish darting through foliage.
- 🌱 The genus Columnea is native to Central and South American rainforests where they grow naturally as epiphytes on trees, mimicking these conditions indoors improves blooming.
- 🌱 This hybrid cultivar is the result of selective breeding to enhance flower size, color intensity, and blooming frequency compared to wild Columnea species.
Join 30,000 gardeners planning their gardens with LizPlants.
Get your personalized Columnea 'Katsura' planting timeline
Tell us your zip code and we'll calculate exactly when to start Columnea 'Katsura' seeds, transplant seedlings, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Includes calendar reminders and printable task lists. Free to start.
Get my Columnea 'Katsura' timeline →