Kohleria is a New World genus of flowering plants in the family Gesneriaceae, order Lamiales, comprising around 19–24 species of tropical herbs and subshrubs native to Central America and South America. Plants in this genus are characterized by velvety, hairy stems and leaves and brilliantly colored tubular flowers, typically red, orange, or pink, adorned with contrasting spots or markings. They are rhizomatous perennials that commonly undergo a period of dormancy as part of their growth cycle.
The genus was revised in 1992 and at that time was recognized as containing 19 species. A 2005 phylogenetic study demonstrated that the epiphytic genus Capanea was derived from within Kohleria, and its two species were subsequently transferred into Kohleria. The closely related genus Pearcea shares a similar tropical New World distribution. Several Kohleria species are widespread, variable, and prone to hybridizing in the wild, which has generated a long history of synonymy under names such as Achimenes, Gesneria, Isoloma, Sciadocalyx, and Tydaea.
Kohlerias were immensely popular in 19th-century England and Europe, when tropical flowering plants from the Americas were eagerly collected and illustrated in horticultural publications including Curtis's Botanical Magazine. They faded from cultivation in the early 20th century but have seen renewed interest from plant breeders in recent decades. Today, numerous species and hybrids are grown as houseplants, prized for their showy blooms and ease of culture. Some cultivated selections also feature patterned or variegated foliage. Propagation is straightforward by stem cuttings or division of the rhizomes.
Distribution
Kohleria is native to tropical regions of Central America and South America. Several species have wide, variable ranges and tend to hybridize where their distributions overlap.
Cultivation
Kohlerias are popular houseplants grown for their showy, spotted tubular flowers. They thrive under warm, humid conditions typical of their tropical origins and benefit from a rest period that corresponds to their natural dormancy cycle. Propagation is easily achieved by stem cuttings or by dividing the rhizomes.
History
Kohlerias were among the most fashionable tropical flowering plants in 19th-century Europe, frequently illustrated in publications such as Curtis's Botanical Magazine, often under now-discarded genus names including Achimenes, Gesneria, Isoloma, Sciadocalyx, and Tydaea. They declined sharply in cultivation in the early 20th century, and renewed breeding work has only recently brought them back into wider horticultural use.
Taxonomy Notes
The genus was revised in 1992 to recognize 19 species. A 2005 phylogenetic analysis showed that Capanea, an epiphytic genus, is nested within Kohleria; its two species were consequently transferred to Kohleria. The closely related genus Pearcea is placed nearby in the family Gesneriaceae. Several species are prone to hybridization in the wild, producing numerous synonyms and complicating species delimitation.
