How to Grow Lipstick Plant
Wikimedia Commons
Lipstick Plant
Aeschynanthus radicans
flowerThe lipstick plant is a tropical trailing houseplant known for its vibrant red, tubular flowers that resemble a woman's lipstick emerging from a dark tube-like calyx. It features glossy, dark green foliage and is prized as an ornamental for hanging baskets and indoor cultivation. Native to Southeast Asia, it thrives in warm, humid conditions with indirect light.
When should you plant Lipstick Plant in your zone?
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Example Lipstick Plant timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Lipstick Plant
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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First Lipstick Plant blooms
Mid-to-late summerBefore the first fall frost (≈ Nov 8)
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Lipstick Plant dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Zones 10b-12; primarily grown as a houseplant in cooler climates
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Get my Lipstick Plant timeline →Growth Stages
Establishment
4-8 weeksYoung plant developing root system and compact foliage growth; small dark green leaves emerging along trailing stems
Keep soil evenly moist, maintain high humidity, provide bright indirect light, avoid fertilizing for first 4-6 weeks
Vegetative Growth
4-12 monthsPlant produces long trailing stems with increasingly dense glossy green foliage; no flowers yet
Continue consistent watering and humidity, begin monthly diluted fertilization (balanced formula), provide bright indirect light, prune tip growth to encourage bushiness
Pre-Flowering
2-4 monthsStems mature and harden; plant reaches fuller size with extensive trailing growth; leaf color may deepen
Reduce nitrogen-heavy fertilization, shift to higher phosphorus formula to promote blooming, maintain bright light, continue misting
Flowering
6-12 weeks per flush; can rebloom multiple times annuallyClusters of distinctive red tubular flowers with dark red-brown calyces appear along trailing stems; blooms emerge from leaf axils
Maintain consistent conditions; avoid moving plant; do not over-fertilize; continue regular misting; provide good air circulation
Post-Bloom Rest
4-8 weeksFlowers fade and drop; plant enters semi-dormant period with slower growth
Reduce watering slightly, provide cool period (60-65°F if possible) for 4-6 weeks, reduce fertilization, prepare for next bloom cycle
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Inspect regularly; remove with rubbing alcohol on cotton swab; spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap weekly for 3 weeks
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Increase humidity with frequent misting; spray with water to dislodge; use miticide or neem oil if severe
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Remove manually with rubbing alcohol; treat with horticultural oil or insecticidal soap; repeat every 7-10 days as needed
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Use yellow sticky traps; spray undersides of leaves with insecticidal soap; ensure good air circulation
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Allow soil to dry slightly between waterings; improve drainage; repot in fresh soil if severely affected; reduce watering frequency
Uses
No culinary use
CulinaryLipstick plant is purely ornamental and not edible. The flowers and foliage contain no beneficial culinary properties. [source]
Indoor Ornamental Decoration
HouseholdLipstick plant is a popular hanging basket specimen for indoor spaces, adding tropical ambiance and vibrant color accents to homes, offices, and conservatories. Its trailing growth habit makes it ideal for elevated display locations. [source]
Floral Arrangements & Display
CraftThe distinctive flowers can be used in tropical-themed floral arrangements and are prized by florists for their unique shape and longevity. Fresh cuttings maintain appearance for several days in water. [source]
Hummingbird & Pollinator Attraction
WildlifeWhen grown outdoors in tropical zones, the bright red tubular flowers attract hummingbirds and nectar-feeding insects. Indoor plants can attract beneficial insects if positioned near windows. [source]
Traditional Folk Medicine
MedicinalIn Southeast Asian traditional medicine, lipstick plant has been used in folk remedies for various minor ailments, though scientific validation is limited and it is not commonly used in modern herbalism. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Not harvested for consumption. Deadhead spent flowers by pinching off faded blooms to encourage continued flowering. Cuttings can be taken in spring for propagation by placing 3-4 inch stems in moist growing medium; roots develop in 2-3 weeks.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 The name 'lipstick plant' comes from the flower's appearance: the bright red tubular corolla emerges from a dark purple-red calyx, resembling a lipstick being pushed out of its tube.
- 🌱 Lipstick plants are epiphytic in their native tropical rainforest habitat, growing on trees and in crevices rather than soil—which explains why they prefer bark-based, well-draining growing media.
- 🌱 The plant requires a period of cooler temperatures (around 60-65°F) to trigger robust flowering, making a winter rest period essential for abundant blooms in subsequent seasons.
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