Scientific Name:
Aphelandra squarrosa
Pronunciation:
af-el-AN-druh skwa-RO-suh
Common Name:
zebra plant
Family Name:
Acanthaceae
Plant Type:
Flowering pot plant, Indoor foliage plant
Key ID Features:
Leaves opposite, ovate, 10-22cm long x 4-10cm wide, dark green, waxy, white veined; spikes with long yellow florets may form in summer.
Habit:
Upright
Form:
Oval - vertical
Texture:
Medium - coarse
Mature Height:
0.4 - 0.7m
Mature Spread:
0.3 - 0.6m
Origin:
Central America, Mexico, South America (Brazil)
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 10: (-1 to 4 °C)
Exposure:
Part sun/part shade, Sheltered
Soil/Growing Medium:
Well-drained
Water Use:
Moderate
Landscape Uses:
Indoor plant
Additional Info:
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple
Arrangement:
Opposite
Texture/Venation:
Leathery, Pinnate venation
Surfaces:
Lustrous
Colour in Summer:
Dark-green, White veins
Shapes:
Elliptic, Ovate
Apices:
Acute
Bases:
Attenuate
Margins:
Entire
Additional Info:
Leaves variegated
Inflorescence Type:
Spike
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
5
Corolla Shape:
Bilabiate
Ovary Position:
Superior
Colour (petals):
Showy, Yellow (The bracts are quite showy.)
Flower Time at Peak:
Aug, Sep
Fruit Type:
Capsule
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
Oct
Additional Info:
Not showy, (two locules)
Bark or Stem Colour:
Organ Modifications:
Leaf-like bracts, exstipulate
Propagation:
Softwood cuttings
Optimal Temp.:
High
Light Level:
Medium
Maintenance:
Medium
Other:
Uniform watering critical; avoid extremes. Challenging plant to maintain.
Pest Susceptibility:
Root rot, Scale insects
