Identity & taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Aeschynanthus radicans Jack
- Family
- Gesneriaceae
- Genus
- Aeschynanthus
- Order
- Lamiales
- IUCN status
- Least Concern (LC)
- Wikidata
- Q748459
- Aeschynanthus lobbianus Hook.
- Trichosporum lobbianum (Hook.) Kuntze
- Lipstick planten
- Lipstick vineen
- Basket vineen
- Läppstiftsväxtsv
- Leppestiftplanteno
- Læbestiftplanteda
- Huulipunakukkafi
- Lippenstiftpflanze / Schamblumede
Malay Peninsula · Java · Sumatra
How to identify it
Growth habit. Pendant trailing vine. In the wild it grows as an epiphyte on tree branches in Southeast Asian rainforests, with stems hanging downward. Indoors it grows similarly: woody at the base with herbaceous stems trailing 30–90 cm. Stems hold their shape rather than wrapping around supports — it does not climb. Forms a dense cascading mound on a mature plant.
Leaves. Opposite, oval-to-elliptic, glossy dark-green leaves 3–5 cm long with a waxy cuticle. Leaves are slightly thick and succulent, held tightly along the stem. Some cultivars have curled, twisted, or variegated leaves — see cultivars.
Flowers. The signature feature. Clusters of 4–10 bright red-to-orange tubular flowers ~5 cm long emerge from dark-purple, almost-black tubular calyces at stem tips and leaf axils. The visual effect is identical to lipstick pushed up out of its tube. Flowers appear in flushes throughout the year on a happy plant, with a peak in summer. Each flower lasts 5–7 days; the calyx persists for weeks.
- Bright red tubular flowers emerging from dark-purple tubular calyces — the lipstick-out-of-tube silhouette is diagnostic.
- Glossy, slightly waxy oval leaves arranged in opposite pairs along trailing stems.
- Pendant growth habit — never climbs, always trails.
- Woody base with herbaceous trailing tips.
- Flowers appear at stem tips and leaf axils — never on the older woody stem.
Commonly confused with
Goldfish plant
Same family (Gesneriaceae), similar trailing habit and waxy leaves, but flowers are pouched goldfish-shaped (not tubular), bright orange, and emerge directly from leaf axils with no contrasting calyx. Goldfish plant flowers more freely; lipstick plant has more dramatic two-tone flowers.
Zebra basket vine
Same genus but with mottled, marbled green-and-yellow leaves and yellow-green tubular flowers (not red). Marmoratus is grown primarily for foliage; radicans for flowers.
Showy lipstick plant
Larger, longer (8–10 cm) orange-yellow tubular flowers in dense terminal clusters. Less common in commercial supply but grown by collectors.
Wax plant
Trailing waxy leaves but climbs rather than trails strictly. Flowers are star-shaped pink-and-white clusters, not red tubes. Fragrant; lipstick plant is essentially scentless.
Care
Light
Bright indirect; tolerates direct morning sun.
Aeschynanthus needs significantly more light than most trailing tropicals to bloom. East-facing windows are ideal — bright filtered light with a few hours of gentle direct morning sun. South-facing with a sheer curtain also works. Insufficient light produces leggy growth and few or no flowers. Direct unfiltered midday sun bleaches the leaves. North-facing is too dim for reliable blooming.
Seasonal: Nordic apartments above ~55°N: a full-spectrum LED at 30 cm distance for 12 hours/day from October through March is recommended for flowering specimens. Without supplementation, expect winter bloom-stop and slow growth.
Water
Top 2 cm dries before rewatering — usually every 7–10 days.
Water thoroughly until water runs from the drainage hole, then empty the saucer. Wait until the top 2 cm of mix feels dry. Lipstick plant tolerates a slightly drier regime than most tropicals — its waxy leaves hold water — and is rot-prone in soggy mix. Consistent overwatering causes leaf-drop and basal stem rot.
Seasonal: Winter dry rest (October to February): allow the mix to nearly dry between waterings, water about every 14–21 days, and keep cooler (13–18 °C if possible). This combination is the single biggest predictor of heavy spring/summer flowering.
Soil
Loose, airy epiphyte-style mix.
A mix of 2 parts peat-free potting soil, 1 part coco coir or fine orchid bark, and 1 part perlite suits the species' epiphytic origins. Standard houseplant potting mix is too dense and waterlogs the roots. Aeschynanthus performs particularly well in coco-coir-heavy mixes that retain a little moisture but stay airy.
Humidity
50–60 % preferred; 'Mona Lisa' tolerates 40 %.
Higher humidity supports vigorous growth and longer-lasting flowers. Aeschynanthus tolerates lower humidity better than most rainforest tropicals — its waxy leaves limit water loss — but very dry indoor air below 35 % causes leaf-drop and fewer flowers.
Temperature
18–27 °C in growth; cool rest at 13–18 °C triggers bloom.
Comfortable in normal heated room temperatures. A 6–8 week cool rest at 13–18 °C in winter, combined with reduced watering, triggers flower-bud initiation. Keep above 13 °C; sustained cold below 10 °C causes leaf-drop. Brief exposure to 5 °C kills the plant.
Fertilizer
Half-strength balanced or bloom-promoting feed every 2–3 weeks during growth.
A half-strength balanced (10-10-10) liquid fertiliser every 2–3 weeks from April through September supports both growth and flowering. A bloom-promoting feed (lower N, higher P like 5-10-10) in early summer encourages flower formation. Stop entirely from October through March during the cool rest.
Pruning
Tip-prune lightly in spring to keep the plant bushy and flowering.
After the main flowering flush, trim the longest stems back by one-third to encourage branching. Each new branch is a future flowering site, so light pruning increases bloom count. Aeschynanthus only flowers on new growth, so unpruned plants flower less over time as the canopy ages.
Repotting
Every 2–3 years in spring; prefers slightly root-bound conditions.
Repot in spring when roots circle the pot. Move up only one pot size; oversized pots stay too wet and reduce flowering. A snug pot is correlated with heavier blooming — do not move to a larger pot just because the plant has trailed long stems.
Stem cuttings
easy~3–4 weeks in water; 4–6 weeks in soil; first flowers 6–12 monthsTake 8–10 cm stem-tip cuttings in spring or early summer. Strip the lowest 2–3 leaves and root in either water or directly into moist coco-coir-heavy mix. Roots emerge in 3–4 weeks (water) or 4–6 weeks (soil). Pot up rooted cuttings in groups of 3–4 per pot for a fuller display from the start. New plants flower within 6–12 months.
Air layering
moderate~6–10 weeksFor a faster path to a large plant: wound a lower stem, wrap in damp sphagnum moss inside a plastic bag, and let roots form in place over 6–10 weeks before separating. Useful when working with prized cultivars where cuttings root slowly.
Cultivars
'Mona Lisa'
The most widely-sold cultivar — produces orange-red flowers more reliably and tolerates lower humidity than the wild type. Most commercial 'lipstick plants' are 'Mona Lisa'.
'Curly' / 'Twister'
Curled and twisted dark-green leaves; a popular novelty form. Same red tubular flowers but slightly slower to bloom.
'Variegata'
Cream-and-green variegated foliage; flowers less freely than the wild type but the foliage is the draw.
'Cassiopeia'
Larger, brighter red flowers and slightly more upright habit. Widely sold in Europe.
Common problems
Plant refuses to flower
Symptom
Healthy foliage and growth but no flowers for many months.
Cause
Insufficient light, no winter cool rest, or no recent pruning. Aeschynanthus only flowers on new growth.
Fix
Ensure 4–6 hours of bright indirect light per day. Give a 6–8 week cool rest at 13–18 °C with reduced watering in winter. Tip-prune by one-third after flowering — pruning forces new growth, which is where the next flowers come from. The combination of bright light + cool winter rest + regular pruning is the reliable formula.
Leggy stems with bare lower sections
Symptom
Stems stretch long with leaves only at the tips; lower stem is bare wood.
Cause
Insufficient light or no pruning over time.
Fix
Move to brighter light. Cut back leggy stems to a node 10–15 cm from the base; new branching will emerge. Use the cuttings to propagate replacements. Lipstick plant looks best with regular renewal pruning every 1–2 years.
Full guide: Why Is My Plant Leggy? Causes of Stretching and How to Fix ItSudden leaf drop
Symptom
Leaves drop in handfuls without visible disease.
Cause
Cold drafts, sudden temperature change, or overwatering combined with cool conditions.
Fix
Move away from cold windows, AC vents, and doorways. Maintain consistent 18–27 °C in growth and 13–18 °C in winter rest. Allow the top 2 cm of mix to dry before rewatering. New leaves will emerge once conditions stabilise.
Full guide: Why Is My New Plant Dropping Leaves? A Diagnostic GuideFlowers fall off before opening
Symptom
Buds form but drop before opening; or flowers wilt within 1–2 days of opening.
Cause
Sudden change in temperature, light, or watering during bud formation.
Fix
Do not move or rotate the plant during budding. Maintain stable conditions — temperature, light, and watering. Most often this happens after a recent move or the start of heating season; the plant adapts within 2–4 weeks.
White cottony patches in leaf axils
Symptom
Tufts of cotton-wool-like white material at the base of leaves and around flower buds.
Cause
Mealybugs — common on Aeschynanthus and hard to spot until the infestation is established.
Fix
Dab each visible patch with a cotton swab dipped in 70 % rubbing alcohol. Repeat weekly for 4 weeks. For heavy infestations, apply systemic neem oil drench or insecticidal soap spray every 7 days for 3 applications.
Full guide: Mealybugs on Houseplants: Identification and Treatment- Mealybugs (in leaf axils and at flower bases)
- Aphids on flower buds
- Spider mites in dry winter air
- Botrytis (grey mould) on flowers in cool damp conditions
- Root rot from waterlogged mix
Toxicity & safety
No reported toxicity. Sap is not irritating to skin.
Aeschynanthus radicans — North Carolina State ExtensionASPCA does not list Aeschynanthus among toxic plants. Gesneriaceae are generally non-toxic and Aeschynanthus is considered safe for cats.
ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic PlantsASPCA does not list Aeschynanthus among toxic plants. Considered non-toxic to dogs.
ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic PlantsHow to actually make a lipstick plant flower — the cool-rest formula
Most lipstick plants sold in shops are full of flowers because the grower triggered them with a cool dry winter rest before shipping. Once the original flush is over, owners often wait months or years for the next bloom — because the conditions in a typical heated apartment do not provide the seasonal cue Aeschynanthus needs. The plant grows happily, foliage looks good, but no flowers form.
The reliable trigger is a 6–8 week cool dry rest in winter: keep the plant at 13–18 °C, reduce watering until the mix is nearly dry between waterings, and stop fertilising entirely. Then in spring move it back to warm bright conditions, resume regular watering, and begin a half-strength bloom-promoting feed. Flowers should appear within 4–8 weeks. Combined with regular tip-pruning after each bloom flush — Aeschynanthus only flowers on new growth — this routine produces multiple flushes per year. Apartments without any cool space (kitchens, conservatories, unheated bedrooms) struggle to provide the cue and tend to flower only sporadically.
Lipstick plant vs goldfish plant — both Gesneriaceae, both trail, completely different flowers
Aeschynanthus radicans (lipstick plant) and Nematanthus gregarius (goldfish plant) are both trailing tropical epiphytes from the family Gesneriaceae, and at first glance their habit and waxy leaves look very similar. The difference is in the flowers, and it's unmissable once you know what to look for.
Aeschynanthus has bright red-to-orange tubular flowers (5 cm long) that emerge from dark-purple, almost-black tubular calyces — the lipstick-out-of-tube silhouette. Nematanthus has bright orange pouched goldfish-shaped flowers that emerge directly from leaf axils with no contrasting calyx — they look like tiny orange goldfish hanging from the stem. Goldfish plant flowers more freely throughout the year and is often the easier choice in dim apartments; lipstick plant flowers in dramatic flushes and demands more light. Both are pet-safe and propagate identically from stem cuttings.
The genus name Aeschynanthus comes from the Greek 'aischunē' (shame) and 'anthos' (flower), referring to the way the bright corolla emerges from a dark, hidden calyx — as if the flower were emerging from concealment. The German common name 'Schamblume' (literally 'shame flower') translates the genus name directly. There are around 150 species of Aeschynanthus in the wild, all from Southeast Asia and the Pacific, and many are pollinated by sunbirds attracted to the red tubular flowers.
Frequently asked · 5
How do I get my lipstick plant to bloom?+
Give it a 6–8 week cool dry rest in winter (13–18 °C, mix nearly dry between waterings, no fertiliser). Then in spring move back to warm bright conditions, resume normal watering, and feed at half strength every 2–3 weeks with a bloom-promoting fertiliser. Tip-prune the plant by one-third after each flush — flowers form only on new growth, so unpruned plants gradually flower less. Bright indirect light (4+ hours per day) is required throughout.
Is the lipstick plant safe for cats and dogs?+
Yes — Aeschynanthus radicans is not on the ASPCA toxic plant list and is generally considered non-toxic to cats and dogs. Gesneriaceae as a family are pet-safe. Cats may chew the trailing stems out of curiosity but no chemical hazard is known.
Why is my lipstick plant dropping leaves?+
Most often cold drafts, sudden temperature changes, or overwatering — especially common when the heating turns on at the start of autumn. Move away from cold windows, AC vents, and doorways. Maintain stable 18–27 °C and let the top 2 cm of mix dry between waterings. New leaves emerge within 4–6 weeks once conditions stabilise.
What's the difference between lipstick plant and goldfish plant?+
Lipstick plant (Aeschynanthus radicans) has red tubular flowers emerging from dark-purple tube-shaped calyces — like lipstick from a tube. Goldfish plant (Nematanthus gregarius) has orange pouched goldfish-shaped flowers with no contrasting calyx. Both are Gesneriaceae and both trail, but the flowers are unmistakably different. Goldfish plant blooms more freely; lipstick plant has more dramatic two-tone flowers.
How often should I water a lipstick plant?+
Water when the top 2 cm of mix feels dry — typically every 7–10 days in growth, every 14–21 days during the cool winter rest. Pour through until water runs from the drainage hole, then empty the saucer. Aeschynanthus tolerates a slightly drier regime than most rainforest tropicals and is rot-prone in constantly soggy mix.
- Pet-Safe Houseplants: A Non-Toxic Guide for Cats and Dogs
- Humidity for Houseplants: What Actually Matters (and What Doesn't)
- How Often Should You Fertilize Houseplants? A Practical Schedule
- Why Is My Plant Leggy? Causes of Stretching and How to Fix It
- Mealybugs on Houseplants: Identification and Treatment