Aeschynanthus longicaulis aka Zebra Basketvine

Aeschynanthus longicaulis belongs to the Gesneriaceae family. It is tender and keeps its leaves all year. It grows wild in the southern Andaman Islands. Its range also runs from southern Yunnan to northwestern Peninsular Malaysia. It grows in wet parts of the tropics. It is an epiphytic subshrub: a small shrub that grows on other plants. Gardeners also call it Aeschynanthus marmoratus or Aeschynanthus zebrinus. Its English name is long-stemmed basket plant.

Its stems trail, so it suits hanging baskets. The RHS lists its height as 0.3–1.6 feet [0.1–0.5 metres]. Its account also gives a height of 2 feet [0.6 metres]. The plant spreads 1.6–3.3 feet [0.5–1 metre]. Each stem can reach about 3 feet [0.9 metres] long. Plants take five to ten years to reach full size. The leaves have a lance shape. Their dark green tops have white marks like marble. The lower sides are paler green with red-purple marks.

Flowers grow where the leaves join the stems. They bloom from summer into winter. Each tube-shaped flower is about 0.16 feet [0.05 metres] long. The tube is green-yellow. Yellow and crimson marks cover the lobes and throat. Both the leaves and flowers add to its looks. Its trailing form suits a raised pot or hanging basket. The RHS also lists it for greenhouses and conservatories.

Grow it indoors with bright light, screened from direct sun. The RHS suggests peat-free compost made for houseplants. Its guide also lists loam and part shade. Keep the mix moist, but let water drain out. Give plenty of water from mid-spring through late summer. In those months, feed once a month. Use a general liquid plant feed at half strength. Give less water in winter. The RHS accepts acid, neutral, or alkaline growing conditions. Its UK hardiness rating is H1A. It needs a glasshouse above 15°C all year.

Trim weak shoots and stems that grow too long. Take softwood cuttings in spring to grow new plants. In summer, you can take semi-ripe cuttings instead. Watch for aphids and mealybugs, which may attack it. The RHS says disease rarely causes problems. The supplied sources give no fruit details for this species. They give no evidence of edible uses or toxicity.