Slipper Flower

Slipper Flower (Calceolaria) - Handsome herbs or low shrubs of the Foxglove order, mostly from S. America, many of high garden value, but few hardy. In the London district many of the varieties die from disease, or are short-lived as regards bloom, but the handsome C. amplexicaulis, with its bold habit and lemon-yellow flowers, is always a favourite.

The best time for propagating the shrubby varieties is the end of September and October. Cuttings of recent growth of 3 inches or so long are the best, and if made to a joint in the usual way and inserted in sandy soil in a cold frame, will, if kept close and fairly moist, root to almost cent. per cent. When rooted ventilate freely. Kept moderately dry, the young plants will pass an ordinary winter with impunity. In February the plants should be potted singly or transplanted, in order to make bushy examples for bedding out in due course.

Apart from the varieties, a number of species are of some merit for the flower garden. The greater number inhabit mountain valleys, and ascend to an elevation of from 13,000 to 14,000 feet in S. America.

Related Flowers

Calceolaria Alba

Calceolaria Alba - One of the most attractive, with narrow dark green leaves, slightly toothed. The flowers, produced in branched racemes, are small and pure white. The whole plant is somewhat viscid or clammy. This makes an interesting wall plant, and is worth persevering with where good plants are appreciated.

Calceolaria Amplexicaulis

Calceolaria Amplexicaulis - A fine kind with soft green leaves clasping the stem and many lemon-yellow flowers. Owing to its tall habit it groups well with various plants, and it is handsome in the flower garden in autumn. Ecuador.

Calceolaria Hyssopifolia

Calceolaria Hyssopifolia - One of the best of the dwarf kinds, bearing loose clusters of lemon-yellow blossoms from early summer till autumn, the foliage resembling that of Hyssop. Ecuador.

Calceolaria John Innes

Calceolaria John Innes - A remarkably fine plant raised at the John Innes Horticultural Institute, Surrey, the result of crossing C. plantaginea and C. polyrrhiza. In habit it closely resembles C. plantaginea, forming a comparatively compact mass, increasing by short side growths; the leaves are intermediate, narrower than those of C. plantaginea, but not showing the distinct petiole of C. polyrrhiza. The flowers, produced in pairs, and carried on wiry stems each 9 inches to a foot in height, are longer than in either of the parents, the pouch widening as it expands, becoming somewhat wedge-shaped. The color is bright yellow, with a few brown spots on the underside of the pouch.

Calceolaria Kellyana

Calceolaria Kellyana - A curious hardy hybrid, with short downy stems, 6 to 9 inches high, flowers about an inch across, yellow with numerous small brown dots top of the stems. Its foliage resembles a Mimulus, creeping along the ground, and it is a very interesting dwarf rock garden plant.

Calceolaria Pavonii

Calceolaria Pavonii - A noble kind, from 2 to 4 feet high, with large light green, much-wrinkled foliage, bearing large, pale yellow, slipper-shaped blossoms. It is a fine object against a warm south wall, but at the approach of winter it should either be lifted or protected. Peru.

Calceolaria Plantaginea

Calceolaria Plantaginea - A low-growing plant spreading by means of short side growths; the leaves, formed in rosettes, are broadly ovate, with toothed margins and attain a considerable size in moist positions. The flowers, produced on slender stems, 9 inches to a foot high, are of a fine bright yellow.

Calceolaria Polyrrhiza

Calceolaria Polyrrhiza - creases rapidly by means of wide-spreading rhizomes, and quickly finds its way into conditions which suit it. At Glasnevin, where it was originally planted in a small bog, it spread up a bank on one side and established itself among the roots of ferns growing there; it appears to like rather drier conditions than C. plantaginea. The leaves are long and narrowed into a petiole, and are softly hairy on both surfaces. The flowers, produced singly on slender stems, have a rounded "pouch" yellow with numerous reddish-brown spots underneath.

Calceolaria Violacea

Calceolaria Violacea - A distinct kind, with small helmet-shaped flowers, rich purple and spotted; succeeds well on warm borders or the rock garden, and, if slightly protected, withstands mild winters in the south. Chili.

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